Anti-road agitators vow not to leave site of protest

Wicklow County Council has begun moves to evict environmentalists who are camping in woodland at Glen o' the Downs in protest…

Wicklow County Council has begun moves to evict environmentalists who are camping in woodland at Glen o' the Downs in protest at a £20 million scheme to widen the N11 road.

Yesterday council officials delivered a letter to the protesters, advising them to vacate the site "as a matter of urgency". Copies of the letter, from the county secretary, Mr Bryan Doyle, were affixed to trees and shelters in the area where the environmentalists are camping.

However, the protesters say they have no intention of moving. A tour of the site yesterday revealed that plans to expand are well advanced, with at least six new tree-houses constructed.

The protesters plan to retreat into the tree-houses, perched high in the century-old beeches, when the diggers move in, probably in December. Drawing on the experience of environmental activists in Britain, they hope to stave off the road-widening scheme.

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About 22 people were living on the site yesterday. Some are long-term residents - the protest began last April - while others come for shorter periods. Most are Irish or English, but yesterday there were visitors from Canada, Germany and other countries.

The group says the planned widening of the two-lane stretch of the N11 to a dual carriageway from Kilmacanogue to the south end of Glen o' the Downs will cut into the woods on one side. On the other, trees will be cut down and the timber sold.

The group's spirits remain high. New arrivals generally build "benders", makeshift tents made with willow rods and covered with polythene, before constructing a tree-house. Straw is used for bedding. They have no electricity, but they do have a mobile phone.

"People have been kind enough to come to us with food, and offers of support. Only this morning the local milkman and his son came down with a supply of milk," said "Magic Ian", from Nottinghamshire. Two weeks ago the postman started deliveries, using the numbers painted by council officials on the trees to be cut down.

He described the group's action as a vigil rather than a protest. "We've done all we can so far to stay within the law. This is why we haven't yet replaced the signs on the road which were taken away by the officials."

Some residents could be classified as New Age travellers, others are politically motivated. A number are unemployed, but some are fleeing "yellow-pack" jobs.

"This is the first time since Carnsore Point that people have had the opportunity to take direct action on the environment," said Kevin (24), who edits an alternative magazine.

The cold and the lack of creature comforts don't bother him: "Being here is so much better than working for £2.50 an hour in some coffee shop. Anyway, it's nothing strange for Irish people to be out in a drop of rain."

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen

Paul Cullen is Health Editor of The Irish Times