Occupy protesters told stint at the Meadows will be short
Liam Allan gets in tune with his new surroundings
A NEW Occupy Edinburgh camp is set to be evicted after moving in on the Meadows, it emerged today.
The new camp was set up after the protesters left St Andrew Square after a stay of 100 days and threats of court action.
They now claim to plan an even bigger demo at their new home but moves are already under way to remove them.
Around half a dozen tents were set up near Middle Meadow Walk early yesterday morning.
Protester Liam Allan, 23, a musician from Leith, said: “We’re going to be staying here for as long as possible – we want people to know we are not giving up.”
However, Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city’s environment leader, said: “The council’s position is quite clear – we do not allow camping on the Meadows and we have asked the Occupy Edinburgh protesters to leave. We are currently seeking legal advice and will continue to liaise with the police and protesters.”
The group said it left the St Andrew Square, which is run by Essential Edinburgh, voluntarily to avoid a forced eviction and to avoid wasting public money.
An action by the council would see court officers brought in to forcibly remove protesters.
A spokesman said the Meadows site would be their new “permanent occupation” because it is public land.
Patrick Stevenson, 33, a volunteer who has a part of Occupy Edinburgh since December, said: “The Meadows is not private land – it’s not for a bank to throw us off their land any more. We’re still concerned about the state of the economy and the system and how that system fails to work for the small and weak.”
Members of the group said a zero tolerance approach to drugs and alcohol had been introduced at the camp.
Alan Thomson, owner of Victor Hugo Delicatessen in Melville Terrace, said he would have preferred the demonstrators not to be camped near his business.
He said: “The council have got to bring in legislation that can move the protesters sooner rather than later.
“I believe it takes 28 days by the time the council can serve a notice – why is that still in place?”
But the chairman of the council’s advocacy group on the Meadows, Rev Chris Wigglesworth, told the Evening News he had “sympathies” with the group.
He said: “We are very anxious not to have the Meadows spoiled, and I can’t say I’m thrilled, but I feel Occupy Edinburgh have got everybody thinking about the banks – their protest is understandable.”
Meadows councillor Cameron Rose told the Evening News the local authority would be taking advice on enforcing the rules of the park. He said: “Ignoring democracy and breaking the park rules does not seem to be a good way to start improving the world.”
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: “We will monitor the situation at the Meadows, and will deal appropriately with any allegations of criminal behaviour reported to us.”
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Comments
There are 44 comments to this article
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Victor Hugo
Monday, February 6, 2012 at 07:15 PMJools in Edinburgh ......please please dont believe everything you read in the papers !!! What I said was "everybody has a right to protest regardless of where it is " and the council should have the powers to move people on and not have to wait 28 days with current legislation " was definitely not a NIMBY quote ......totally misquoted ! . Thanks for the comment though !
occupylink
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:56 PM#42. I have never taken a grant in my life, and am not a student either. I can assure you that I am in the Occupy Movement to stop banking greed. You can support the banking swells all you like. That will only enhance us to the detriment of your banking friends, who appear to the 99% ever more as degenerate and brutal parasites.
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 04:33 PM#41: You sound like "Student Grant" out of the Viz mate. Get a life!
occupylink
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 07:00 PMI notice that the Scotsman allows calling Occupy Protestors "Ladyboys". It is typical of the insulting homophobic tone of this newspaper. We will carry on nevertheless. This protest is bigger than petty insults from the Scotsman or elsewhere. Councillor Aldridge has made his position very clear against us and for the banking greed. Rose is a little more diplomatic. Strangely enough, we are getting more support from some of the Conservative Councillors against banking greed.
Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 02:14 PM#16: "...and very strong views that the current government and economic system is corrupt, self serving, inhumane and destroying the planet." ...... Thanks for enlightening me... Now.... ...........................................................................................................................Corrupt government? Yes. I can probably go along with that to a certain extent, however far more damaging are the facts that: 1) It is possible for people to make a career out of politics and therefore their primary focus is that of ensuring they are re-elected as opposed to representing their constituents and thinking of the good of the country. This leads to 2) Politicians are too eager to listen to minority fringe loonies and impliment their policies. Take the smoking ban as a prime example of that, closely followed by speed cameras the hunting ban and the latest war on alcohol. .......... 3) Politicians won't give us credit for our own intelligence and won't allow us to use our own judgement, hence all the ludicrous nany state legislation. 4) Politicians don't think before they act. In their minds, the answer always has to be the most obvious and simple one. In reality all this does is create a climate where we have ever increasing, ever tighter, ever more intrusive legislation whilst the trouble makers continue to make trouble and the problems actually get worse.......5) Rather than telling the truth, politicians prefer to use spin, propaganda and even downright lies in order to manipulate the population in accordance with their wishes.. ........................The economic issues were brought about primarily as a result of a criminally incompetent series of labour governments which built the economy on debt. I agree that some of the bonuses paid to bankers are a bit excessive but that is not the main factor here.............I don't see how our economic policies are inhumane and neither do I see how we are destroying the planet. The "destroying the planet" rubbish is all bunkum put about by politicians desparate for justification to wield more power and intrude in our lives even further.
I Paton
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:29 PMIncidentally, are you Occupy people the same bunch that were shouting threatening abuse at women going home from work in St Andrews Square?
I Paton
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:27 PMOccupy people: Why are you occupying what is in effect public land, incurring costs to the taxpayer and nuisance to ordinary people living nearby? Why not occupy the RBS campus near Edinburgh Airport, for example? That would seem more in line with your objectives. Or is the prospect of swift removal and arrest a deterrent to your objectives? Or why not occupy your own back gardens? It will achieve about as much as your current occupation, and will bother the rest of us a lot less.
Afredo Garcia
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 01:12 PMThe real damage is often caused by irresponsible barbecues. Maybe the protestors could help stamp these out and also watch out for vulnerable students.
Rugal
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:39 AM#32 That figure doesn't include the rental of the meadows.
Niebiosa tam sa naprawde nieskrzydlowe ludzie tam
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 09:23 AMare the ladyboys taking part in this protest ?
Jools in Edinburgh
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 11:28 PM"Alan Thomson, owner of Victor Hugo Delicatessen in Melville Terrace, said he would have preferred the demonstrators not to be camped near his business." ----------------------------------------------------- Conratulations Alan. You've managed to score top marks on NIMBYISM and failing-to-see-the-bigger-pictrure all in one sentence.
adamant
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:57 PMsocial mobility is dead, the gap between the poor and rich has increased 300% since the 1980s. the poor are getting poorer and the richer are getting richer. the economic system is built around game theory psychology models which were supposed to reflect human nature. Further studies show that only sociopaths and economic students are the only people who behave in this manner. working class people are being treated unfairly on a daily basis - bank charges of £50 on average if you go over drawn (you try surviving on £200 per week) - job agencies ( what are there function other than stealing half of peoples wage packets, take away there rights as a worker, and, ofcourse, feed corporate interests Dishonesty is rising, what do you expect in this day & age, how can you develop a value system when your being . This movement is trying to change the world and make it a fairer more equal place, give it that. commodities and iphones dont make up for having no hope of developing in life, no wonder so many poor people are turning to drugs if the people who this social movement represents come together you will see change; the key is to mobilise these people in a positive an constructive manner.
Jools in Edinburgh
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:00 PMrugal. Thanks for that. You seem to be saying they pay to cover the cost of the damage. So in other words they get free rent to make lots of money out of us while all other performers pay rent. Well thats a disgrace in my books. At least the protesters have a chance of doing aomething constructive
Rugal
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:40 PM#28 They pay about £50,000 a year to replace and repair the grass.
CASHKING7
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:30 PMTurn the fire hoses on them every night, I am sure they wouldn't last long in this,weather, Hope it drops to minus 10 and freezes them.
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