Occupy camp strikes deal with city

Published on Thursday 9 February 2012 12:02

OCCUPY Edinburgh campers were set to leave the Meadows today after striking a deal with the city council.

Members of the protest movement said they would leave the public space by noon in exchange for being granted the use of council facilities. The group, which was facing an eviction hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Friday, will also be considered for public funding to help to pay for renting office space.

Occupy has also said it will be given the chance to use public halls or meeting spaces for short protest events, and plans to set up a rota to take workshops around the Capital.

An agreement was reached last night in which the council said it would identify opportunities to provide Occupy Edinburgh with temporary access to a central meeting space, over the next two weeks, with photocopying facilities.

It was also agreed that Occupy Edinburgh could apply to the council for a grant to cover the cost of renting an office.

Mike Ferrigan, one of the Occupy Edinburgh members negotiating with the city council, said: “We have agreed we will be vacating the Meadows by noon today in return for the council dropping the eviction order against us.

“We had very constructive meetings with the council and one of the agreements is that the council will be identifying a meeting space for us.

“They were very positive about us having outreach camps. For example, on Friday and Saturday nights we’d like to hold workshops and entertainments. We’d have a rota for different areas round Edinburgh.

“We’re moving into a different phase and we have lots of plans to spread the message.”

Environment leader, Councillor Robert Aldridge, said: “We had a constructive meeting with Occupy Edinburgh who have agreed to remove their camp from the Meadows.

“The council has a clear policy that no camping is permitted in our public parks and our officers will inspect the area to ensure that the camp has been cleared tomorrow.

“Staff will be offering advice to Occupy Edinburgh on how to make applications for any specific events they may wish to hold in the city, which will be considered on the same basis as the many other requests for specific events we receive.”

City centre councillor Joanna Mowatt, said: “I can think of about ten community organisations I would rather see grant money go to.

“Should we be providing free venues for them? We don’t do it for anyone else. If they want to apply for a grant, they can go ahead and apply in the normal way like everyone else has to.

“At the end of the day, they are a political pressure group – it shouldn’t be the case that the people who shout the loudest get whatever they want.”

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68

paulr

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:36 AM

While i agree with some of the principles behind the movement, the actual people are lazy wasters living off the state. They seem to think the world owes them an easy life, well it doesnt.

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67

Harvey Mushman

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 05:12 AM

It is because of capitalism that virtually every thing you touched today, including the computer you are typing on, exists.... numbskulls....

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66

Mario Antoinette

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:32 AM

65. We get it. We understand your concerns, not all of us simply sit and watch xfactor you know. However, theres about 5 of you making a public protest in a metropolitan area of half a million. Who do you think works for these banks and corporations, thousands of your fellow edinburghers. Human nature dictates that sometimes the devil you know is the best way. Whats your economic plans once banks and corporations are done away with? You're laughable really, and not quite as smart as you think you are.

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65

Troojen

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:02 AM

#64 You Sir pay taxes to fund Chemotrails, Big Cartels, Wars and Weapons not naming most. Hopefully when the NHS goes private in the next few months people will then awake to what is really going on and the real purpose for these protesters and if that does not work then maybe ACTA will, 2012 games or maybe even WW3 to me 2012 is going to be an eventful year so we will get the pop corn out and sit back, wait for the events of the new world order regime to come into place productively. Thanking You !

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64

Harry Palmer

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Occupy Edinburgh are disgusting layabouts who urinate in public parks and intimidate people. And now they are getting public money our taxes as a reward for their behaviour. This SNPLiberal council have once again betrayed us all. Occupy stand up for the working class, ironic since they don't work or have any class!

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63

oTo

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:41 PM

"No public money is being used" - yes it is! You ARE being treated differently to anyone else, anyone else would have been arrested immediately and found themselves in courtpaying a fine. Do you think all these meetings with 'council officials' etc aren't costing the council tax payer money? You are nothing but a bunch of pathetic publicity seeking wasters. Inc 'IT director' JOT who obviously operates JOT Tech from his bedroom in Gretna.

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62

misinformation

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 10:09 PM

No public money is being used or procedures in place to treat Occupy Edinburgh any different from anyone else. Occupy Edinburgh will have to pay for any Council facilities like anyone else and be legible for any grant only if it is properly constituted like any other organisation. "“Staff will be offering advice to Occupy Edinburgh on how to make applications for any specific events they may wish to hold in the city, which will be considered on the same basis as the many other requests for specific events we receive.” Mowatt is completely wrong to use the word "free". That was never the case. Total respect again to these hardy soles who have camped out in all weathers and made many sacrifices over the past four months to highlight social and environmental injustice.

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61

Lidl Shopper

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 07:10 PM

Oh bless! You're now going to 'Outreach' us. Hallelujah! Where should we send our cheques to support your divinely appointed mission?

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60

Tartancult

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 06:58 PM

I hope you do not question my credentials Maurice the dolphin - just look up Bill Gates at Microsoft to prove who I am - you can't contact me directly at the moment though as I am currently with the people at Occupy Starbucks.

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59

flyinngscott

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:59 PM

Betcha the multi monikered mentalist has got world saving dreadlocks ;)

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58

flyinngscott

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:56 PM

Is it a full moon? The boards are awash with self righteous mentalists today.

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57

Aristotle

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:45 PM

I pay my Council Tax for essential services - not for this rabble to get funding to rent property. At least the majority of bankers pay taxes - more than these unwashed parasites.

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56

Thomas the Tank

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:43 PM

Well, John William David Oscar Thomson (5 names? - your parents must have been Filthy Rich!) it's been fascinating to eavesdrop on your quasi-anarchic delusions. IF - and it's a big one, you actually DO run the companies you claim, I'll bet just about every prospective employer and client have now binned any promotional material you've ever sent out! We know you're not the Hobbit strumming the guitar - which of the other two manky losers are you?

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55

Mario Antoinette

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 05:01 PM

i bet they love boards of canada.

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54

Mario Antoinette

Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 04:52 PM

Theres the wee boy playing the guitar again. He's a warrior. Anyway, what i think pretentious John Oscar Thomas is actually talking about is the fact that he is a "self employed" IT contactor and a token director of a company because his agent advised that was a better way to go than IR35. If he's working in Edinburgh chances are its in the financial sector who make lots of money from supporting dubious industries , which may or may not destroy his argument. Anyway, get over yourself.

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