12.1.2008
A demonstration in Oxford against the felling of trees and the building of a monstrous new shopping centre saw hundreds of people gather around Bonn Square. Many of them then took spontaneous direct action to stop the fencing-off of the square, and forced the Council to take the fences back down!
We won this time, but the struggle to save the trees and stop the Westgate Centre goes on. On Monday, the tree-sitter is in court and the Council is seeking final permission to go ahead with the felling. Support is always needed down at the Square, and watch this space for announcements of future actions.
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Activist arrested while trying to give tree protester water
13.1.2008
An activist is arrested for “on suspicion of littering” while trying to throw Gabriel, the Bonn Square tree protester, some water.
At about 2 AM on Sunday morning two activists went to Bonn Square to try to give the fenced-off tree protester, Gabriel, some water. As one distracted the security, the other tried to throw a bottle to Gabriel, but unfortunately it wasn’t a very good throw 😉
Police sitting in a nearby car quickly noticed and the bottle-thrower was arrested “on suspicion of littering”. Fortunately only about 3 hours was spent at the police station before the activist was released without charge – the police seemed to have changed their mind and decided it wasn’t a prosecutable offence.
The arrestee was advised by a solicitor that whilst the arrest was potentially unlawful, pursuing legal action would likely only result in a different charge such as “public disorder”. An IPCC complaint may be made.
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14.1.2008
Latest update from BBC:
Police arrest tree man protester
A protester who was living in a tree in an attempt to stop it from being chopped down has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
Gabriel Chamberlain set up his makeshift tree house in Bonn Square, Oxford, 11 days ago.
The city council secured an eviction order to force him down, but Mr Chamberlain came down voluntarily after he ran out of water and supplies.
The tree was later felled as part of a £1.5m facelift in Oxford’s west end.
The sycamore was the largest of four trees which have been cut down.
The operation sparked protests in Bonn Square from other residents and police have arrested at least two other people.
The trees will be replaced with seven semi-mature robinia pseudoacacia trees.
A council spokesman said Bonn Square was in a key location at the intersection of four major routes.
He said the plan was aimed at making the square more attractive and improving CCTV surveillance.
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Yesterday morning Gabriel was arrested and work began on destroying the tree. I don’t know the exact details; whether it was a planned eviction or whether he was grabbed having come down from the tree for supplies or a break.
Protesters were outnumbered by cops and security and the tree itself was surrounded by several layers of fencing. Nevertheless a few attempted to block the work, but were quickly dragged away. They were arrested for aggravated trespass and I believe all have now been released on police bail, and will find out in a few weeks whether or not the charges will be dropped.
This is not the end of the campaign though; there are still tens of trees under threat as part of the Westgate expansion, and the Bonn Square campaign has served to galvanise local action. Watch this space 🙂
Meanwhile the Radley Lakes Town Green application was turned down by the County Council, despite plenty of evidence; campaigners will take the case to the High Court.