Protest campers told: pack up your tents now or face forced eviction

PROTESTERS camped out in one of Edinburgh’s main squares over the last few months face being served with an eviction notice within days if they refuse to agree to leave today.

The business group responsible for St Andrew Square has declared “enough is enough” after a string of complaints about the continuing presence of more than 20 campers.

However, it is set on a collision course with protesters, as it thought a hard core will refuse to disband the camp voluntarily.

Occupy Edinburgh has called an emergency meeting at a nearby church this morning to decide the fate of its campaign, which has been under mounting criticism over health and safety concerns and reports of antisocial behaviour.

The business group, Essential Edinburgh, said it had the support of the police to press ahead with an eviction at the privately-owned square if it wanted to, although it is not known how long a legal action would take to enforce.

It had agreed to allow the campers to stay over the festive season on condition they move their tents so they did not disrupt Christmas events. The campaigners had also been offered advice by council officials.

However Essential Edinburgh’s chief executive, Andy Neal, said there had been a “hardening of attitudes” over the last two weeks, with a number of businesses calling for action.

Mr Neal said: “We are waiting to see the outcome of this meeting, but as far as we’re concerned enough is enough now.

“A number of businesses have complained, and there have been various problems with the site, with the amount of mess that’s been created, antisocial behaviour, and health and safety problems.

“We were happy for them to stay in the run-up to Christmas, but we feel the best outcome now is for them to leave. Something has to give.

“We haven’t spoken to them about eviction yet, as we don’t know what they’re planning to do, but we’d give seven days notice of any eviction order if they don’t agree to leave.

“The police have said they are happy to enforce any decisions that we take about eviction, but we haven’t begun any moves as yet.”

Posters and banners with messages such as “Fight for fairness” and “Society doesn’t have to be ruled by the bankers” have been displayed in St Andrew Square since mid-October, when the campers moved in.

Their anti-capitalist cause won the backing of City of Edinburgh Council, which approved a motion in support of the group, despite concerns that it sent out an “anti-business message”.

Protesters were criticised by fire chiefs last week for failing to leave enough space between tents after being called out to a blaze in the campsite. One protester has been charged with an assault on nearby George Street on New Year’s Day.

A spokesman for Occupy Edinburgh said today’s meeting was being held to discuss “the way forward” .

He said: “It’s not about a possible eviction, we don’t know anything about that. At the moment, people are planning on staying. No-one has asked us to leave, as far as I know.”

Another protester said: “We realise public support for what we are doing has gone down a great deal over the last few weeks, but there are strong feelings that now is not the right time to give up.

“Unless we have an alternative location to go to, we are likely to try to stay here for the foreseeable future.”

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has called on the campers to quit the square voluntarily.Deputy chief executive Graham Birse said: “It seems to me that the protest unfortunately has been hijacked by other interests, and I think it’s time they were moved on.”