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<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">DALKEITH
TREE-SIT EVICTION STARTED - SOLIDARITY NEEDED </SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">At
around 4.30 a.m. this morning, Monday 16<SUP>th</SUP> January, eviction of the
protest sites in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Dalkeith</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Country</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> began. Police bailiffs raided one of
the sites and have established a security cordon around it. Protestors remain in
the trees determined to resist eviction and the cutting of the trees in this
part of the River Esk wildlife corridor in <st1:place
w:st="on">Midlothian</st1:place>.<BR><BR>Police are now mobilising climbers and
machinery to remove those in the trees. However, protestors have moved high into
the trees to complicate the eviction process. They are filled with a passionate
desire to protect these woodlands against what is viewed as senseless and
inappropriate destruction of a significant ecological
habitat.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">A
supporter of the protest told Indymedia :”We call on people to come to
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Dalkeith</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Country</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> to show solidarity.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We cannot let this senseless destruction
go ahead.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Protestors are arranging
transport to the site from the Forest Café on <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">Bristo Place</st1:address></st1:Street> in nearby <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Other protestors are making their way
from <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:place></st1:City>
by public transport, to join locals from Dalkeith and area.</SPAN></P><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">TRANSPORT
TO <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">DALKEITH</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">COUNTRY</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">PARK</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Transport
is being arranged from the Forest Café, <st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address
w:st="on">Bristo Place</st1:address></st1:Street>, near <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">George</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">IV</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Bridge</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:City
w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:City>, which is also acting as an info point in
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:place></st1:City>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>More info 077532
80009<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">You
can also make your way there independently, by Lothian bus 3 and 3a from
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:place></st1:City>,
directions below.<BR><BR>Dalkeith Protest Site Phone:
077839043697<BR><BR>DIRECTIONS to the main Protest Site<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">(There
are four sites in total)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Please
bear in mind the police may be obstructing access.<BR><BR>The site is in a stand
of pines on the north side of the River Esk after the two branches have joined
and near the cut for the overhead electric lines.<BR><BR>Enter <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Dalkeith</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Country</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> at the north end- entrance off of the
A6094 at Smeaton Lodge (between Dalkeith and Whitecraig). Go past Home Farm
towards the River Esk, after crossing the bridge the protest site can be
accessed by the first farm track on the left (note the site is not accessible
for vehicles).<BR><BR>Alternatively, enter <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Dalkeith</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Country</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> from the main entrance off of the
High Street in Dalkeith. Straight ahead after you go through the gates, then
stay on the road leading to the right past the adventure playground, shop and
cafeteria; after passing the grazing fields and passing under three power lines
cut the road will split. There is a prominent Scots pine here. Take the left
fork towards the River Esk.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>After a short distance, again take the left fork when the road splits and
go down the hill. After crossing the bridge, the protest site can be accessed by
the first farm track on the left.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This is around 35-40 minutes walk.<BR><BR>From <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Edinburgh</st1:City></st1:place>, Lothian Buses 3
and 3a go to Dalkeith, you can use a day ticket for this journey.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">In
view of the strong defences created at the four sites,and the fact that the
eviction was expected today, it is likely that resistance will continue through
the day, and possibly into tomorrow, so even if you cannot get there until this
afternoon it will probably still be worth going.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><SPAN
lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">MORE
INFO ON THE PROTEST</SPAN></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="BACKGROUND: white; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%"><BR>The
first of the four protest sites at Dalkeith Country Park was established on the
31 October 2005 due to information that tree felling for the A68 bypass (to be
constructed during the summer of 2006) was to proceed immediately. Since that
time, all areas in around the park where tree felling is necessary for the
proposed bypass have seen the establishment of protest sites to defend against
this large-scale habitat destruction. The number of people involved in
protesting the routing of the A68 Bypass through the country park has increased
significantly since the establishment of the first protest site and includes
strong support from many people local to the Dalkeith area.<BR><BR>Campaigners
are adamant that before construction on the A68 bypass continues, a new Public
Inquiry needs to occur. Since planning permission was granted for the bypass in
1993, all information regarding the need for its construction is dated from 1992
or earlier. A proper Environmental Impact Assessment has never been completed,
the last Public Inquiry was in 1992, and the need for this bypass has not
properly been reassessed since major changes to the transport infrastructure of
the area (the dualling of the A1, the building of the A7 Dalkeith bypass, and
the potential reopening of the Borders Rail Link). In 1999, the Strategic Road
Review stated that the A68 Northern bypass should be held in abeyance until the
completion of the Multi-Modal Transport study (to be completed in 2006) which
would consider the need for the bypass with regards to these change.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal
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lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">For
more information on the campaign to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Save</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Dalkeith</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Country</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, visit<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A
href="http://www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/">www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/</A></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black; LINE-HEIGHT: 125%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">from
<A
href="http://www.scotland.indymedia.org">www.scotland.indymedia.org</A></SPAN></DIV></FONT></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>