RBS, Edinburgh Airport and power stations … eco-warriors reveal hit list

Published on Monday 3 August 2009 22:04

ACTIVISTS at Scotland's first climate change camp say they plan to launch a series of raids on high-profile targets such as power stations, coal mining operations and the headquarters of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Protesters gathered yesterday at Mainshill Wood – the site of a planned open-cast mine near Douglas, Lanarkshire – under the eco banner of Climate Camp Scotland, a week-long protest.

They hope to disrupt operations at one or more targets, which include Longannet and Cockenzie, two coal-fired power stations.

Other possible targets include the Grangemouth refinery, Edinburgh Airport, which is planning an expansion, and RBS, on the grounds of the energy companies the bank supports.

However, the closest targets are Scottish Coal's mining operations, where staff have been advised not to confront protesters should they try to break in.

"We will be taking our protests outside the Climate Camp before the end of the week," said a spokesman for the protest group.

"There are a number of possible targets in the Central Belt."

Yesterday, protesters arrived at the site of this year's Climate Camp, the location of which was texted to activists on Sunday.

They had hoped to find a site by the Firth of Forth that would have left them better positioned to reach key targets, but it was eventually decided for logistical reasons to meet at the camp in South Lanarkshire.

Scottish Coal, the UK's largest open-cast mining group, was granted permission to mine 1.7 million tonnes of coal from the woods by South Lanarkshire council in February.

The new site will bring the total number of mines in the area to five – making it one of the most heavily mined areas in Europe, according to the protesters.

About 100 people arrived at the camp yesterday, with several hundred more expected to follow from across the UK later this week.

Climate Camp Scotland spokesman Dan Glass said: "We are expecting between 200 and 600 people to come.

"More and more people have been arriving gradually. There has been a lot of support from the local community as well. There is going to be action throughout the week."

Organisers said the camp would offer workshops on strategies for dealing with climate change, how to take "effective, radical direct action" and on sharing skills for low-impact living.

Strathclyde Police said last night that officers were "monitoring" the camp and reported no incidents at the site as yet.

A source familiar with police briefings on the protesters' plans said last night that, although the groups were non-violent, officers were anticipating damage to private property.

"We expect them to try and break in and chain themselves to machinery and generally try and stop production," the source said.

"I don't imagine that they will be violent but they will cause damage as they attempt to achieve their goals."

Yesterday a spokesman for Scottish Coal said that it remained committed to using energy from coal, despite the opposition.

He said: "Coal has provided our country with energy for many centuries. It is a resource that is still in demand by power station operators.

"Scottish Coal remains committed to maximising the use of indigenous coal which supports Scottish jobs and the Scottish economy, and reduces the need to import coal from foreign sources, which carries a greater environmental cost."