Occupy Edinburgh to appear in court over Meadows eviction

OCCUPY Edinburgh will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today as the city council seek to evict them from the Meadows park land in the capital.

The protesters, who installed a new encampment of tents and infrastructure at the site on 30 January, are adamant they will stay on the site, which they declare is common land.

Edinburgh City Council are seeking to evict them on the grounds that the group did not apply for the right to camp there, which in any case would have been denied.

Mike Ferrigan of Occupy Edinburgh, said: “Occupy Edinburgh is going nowhere. The Council has broken our trust, and was not prepared to talk despite the fact they passed a motion saying they supported our aims and sentiments.

“There will be an evolution in direct action in the city - they have not thought this through.”

Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city’s environment leader, said yesterday: “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.”