COMMUNITY GUARDING

Lewes Road 1 Tesco 0

Lewes Road Community Gardeners have won the first spat in their bid to keep the Brighton thoroughfare greener and Tesco-free.

As contractors pulled up at 7.45am on Friday (2nd) to the garden entrance with a bulldozer, activists put themselves in harm’s way to save Brighton’s guerilla garden (set up on the site of a derelict Esso garage in May 2009 – see SchNEWS 727) from a supermarket and betting shop.

Two refused to give way as the ‘dozer driver recklessly swung his metal bucket over the fence in an attempt to dislodge them from the entrance. One was hit on the head, although not seriously.
 In the end as more community supporters and the local press/TV arrived the contractors from Gilbert-Ash and Terrins turned surprisingly more conciliatory and even asked for the metal buckets that they had left on the wrong side of the fence, back.

As the day progressed an appeal against the original possession order (June 21st) was rapidly put together by garden supporters and nearby residents and lodged at Brighton County Court putting the ki-bosh on further eviction attempts that day.

Which was kinda handy as the EDO Decommissioners trial verdict victory knees-up took place in blazing sunshine in the garden environs, much to the dismay of the local filth seen driving up and down Lewes Road, disgruntled, during the afternoon.

Gardeners and residents are now bracing themselves for further eviction attempts on Monday/Tuesday (July 5/6) should developers Alburn Minos Ltd and Tesco go for a High Court writ. The appeal against eviction should give 14 days grace but no-one’s holding their breath.

In the meantime Garden reps are cranking up the pressure over the flawed public consultation process by Brighton Council and their hand-in-glove relationship with the developers.

Come and support the gardeners all next week as they enter a second week of battle-station occupation. Lewes Road Community Garden next to the Co-op.

* See www.lewesroadcommunitygarden.org www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=100115925878