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<DIV class=body><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV class=body><FONT size=2>(apologies cross
posting...)</FONT></DIV></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV class=body><FONT size=4>The anti roads people are appealling for people to
get to Dalkeith on Friday 20th, transport will be available from the Forest Cafe
from noon, or even better get out there in the morning , buses 3 and 3a go to
Dalkeith , directions below...</FONT></DIV>
<H1>Friday - road eviction fight at vital stage<!--
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<dc:title>Friday - road eviction fight at vital stage</dc:title>
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<DIV class=cleardiv>Indymedia Scotland reports:</DIV>
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<DIV class=summary>More people are set to join the anti road resistance in
Dalkeith Country Park, south of Edinburgh on Friday. The National Eviction Team
and police are expected to start an assault on the main protest site, the bottom
camp by the River Esk on Friday 20th. This main protest site, with all its tree
houses, is still intact. </DIV>
<DIV class=summary> </DIV>
<DIV class=body>“Now is the time to join us,” a protestor told Indymedia. “We
urge everyone who cares about the destruction of this beautiful park – and the
destruction of this beautiful planet – to do whatever they can. The Scottish
Executive aren’t listening to reason, so we need to take direct action. If you
can, join us in the trees, or show your solidarity on the
ground.”<BR><BR>Despite four days of eviction attempts by the police and the
National Eviction Team from Wales, protestors are still in the trees and holding
out. Latest news is that the main site, with its truly impressive tree houses
and aerial net constructions, is still intact. It appears that protestors are
still in one of the holes on middle site. The other two camps - top site and
Camp Five - have been evicted. Several people have been arrested.<BR><BR>A
protestor told Indymedia : “ We are organising transport from central Edinburgh
to the site on Friday. Come to the Forest Café on Bristo Place at noon. Bring
anything that will make a noise, if you can. An infopoint has been set-up in
there with directions (for taking the bus, walking, maps) and so on. People who
want someone to go with them who knows where they’re going may want to meet up
with friendly people there. The bus journey is also pretty simple and goes on
all day, with rides leaving the Cafe from around noon.”<BR><BR>”The police are
currently employing riot police to attempt to prevent people from getting back
to site, and have been taking pictures and have even arrested someone they
recognized as having not paid their fines from a G8 protest! However, there is a
legal and safe "viewing area", and it is currently still possible to get into
the trees to join the protest, and to get closer to show your support! The
earlier you can come the better!!”<BR><BR>Even if all the sites are evicted this
does not mean the end of the struggle - the opposition to the building of the
M77 through Glasgow in the nineties saw months of daily guerrilla opposition to
the tree felling and road building. <BR><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. <BR><BR>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. <BR><BR>Activists believe
this struggle also needs to be considered in the global context of the
catastrophic process of global warming. A protestor told Indymedia :”By
approving this road the Scottish Executive reveal the hypocrisy of their
environmental rhetoric. If the planet is to be saved people need to take action
to transform society ourselves,from the grass-roots - we cannot rely on
politicians, they always put the demands of the profit-driven economy
first.”<BR><BR>TRANSPORT TO DALKEITH COUNTRY PARK<BR>Transport is being arranged
from the Forest Café, Bristo Place, near George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, which is
also acting as an info point in Edinburgh. More info 077532 80009<BR><BR>You can
also make your way there independently, by Lothian bus 3 and 3a from Edinburgh,
directions below.<BR><BR>Dalkeith Protest Site Phone:
07783904369<BR><BR>DIRECTIONS to the main Protest Site <BR><BR>Please bear in
mind the police may be obstructing access, and it may be necessary to vary your
route, which is possible to do.<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 Dalkeith Country Park 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 Dalkeith
Country Park 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. Pass the grazing fields and
pass under three power lines. (At the first power line you can turn right
towards the woodland and access Middle Camp.) After a short distance the road
will split. There is a prominent Scots pine here in front of you. Take the left
fork towards the River Esk. 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. This is around
35-40 minutes walk.<BR><BR>From Edinburgh, Lothian Buses 3 and 3a go along
Princes St, up the Bridges and on to Dalkeith, you can use a day ticket for this
journey.<BR><BR>For more information on the campaign to Save Dalkeith Country
Park, visit <A href="http://www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/"><FONT
color=#000066><A
href="http://www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk/">www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk</FONT></A>/</A>
</DIV>
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<DIV class=body>from scotland.indymedia.org</DIV>
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