An activist surveys the contractors

Monday: four more arrests at roads protest in Bexhill

Four opponents of the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road (BHLR) have been arrested whilst peacefully defending trees from chainsaw-wielding contractors in Bexhill this afternoon. The trees were located just north of the bridge at TN39 4AP – the intersection of London Road and Woodsgate Park.

Security guards tackle a protestor peacefully resisting the felling of trees in Sidley on Sunday 16 Dec.

The tree-felling is part of the preparatory work for the construction of the £100m Bexhill-Hastings Link Road. This afternoon’s arrests brings the total number of arrests since contractors and security moved in to start felling trees in Bexhill and Crowhurst last Friday to six.

On Friday, a day of heavy rain and high winds, contractors moved-in to start tree-felling in the area of the old railway near Adams farm in Crowhurst. Some activists occupied trees, and 30 protestors successfully prevented any significant work from taking place despite the presence in the valley of over 100 security guards, chainsaw operatives and other contractors.

On Saturday, chainsaw-wielding contractors were able to fell a significant number of trees in Sidley. However, local residents expressed anger at the tree-felling, lending activists a ladder that enabled them to occupy some of the trees, successfully preventing their destruction.

Earlier, a second set activists had forced contractors to stop cutting, after climbing into one of the fenced-off areas. In all, two arrests were made. One was for ‘aggravated trespass’. In a separate incident, a second person was arrested for refusing to give their name and address to a police officer. The police have no blanket powers to demand a person’s name and address and the two walkers who were confronted had done nothing wrong and found the treatment of the police intimidatory and unnecessary hostile.

An activist locked-on to the underside of one of a contractor's vehicle, near Adam's farm in Crowhurst on Sunday (16 Dec). Credit: Richard Paine

On Sunday (16 Dec) morning activists again tried to peacefully resist further tree-felling in Sidley, but were unable to prevent a large number of trees from being destroyed. In the afternoon contractors again moved-in on the site near Adam’s farm but were stymied after one activist hand-cuffed themselves to the underside of one of the contractor’s vehicles. (See left).

No arrests were made on Friday or Sunday.

Also in: Campaigns