I am saddened, shocked and angered by the actions taken by Solihull Council last night in choosing to evict the Meriden RAID protestors.
For over 600 days residents have been united in their vigil to observe the traveller site to ensure no further inappropriate development continued on the Green Belt land. I have joined them around the fire and over time they’ve gone from my constituents to my friends.
The West Midlands is made up of a 5th of Greenbelt land and it is only right that people protect this. Human rights and the circular of 2006, created by New Labour and John Prescott, has given rise to special rights for travellers to develop on Greenbelt land, something that means they are given rights above those of a normal citizen.
These special rights have brought misery to the lives of the residents in the area. The RAID group stated that they were going to continue their observations until Solihull council enforced the traveller site eviction and this is only right. If Solihull council fail to take control of the situation, we could be looking at Dale Farm mark two. It is now only a month until the issue goes back to high court, with the council seeking permission for the traveller site eviction. One can only hope that this will be the beginning of the end for the nightmare that has fallen on Meriden residents.
As the RAID group have said to the press,
“The council have voted to evict the residents on the 31st March. These are the same residents who have alerted the council to the on-going breaches of an injunction and have provided evidence for the council to use in the public enquiries”.
Although the residents will have to remove the wood burner and shelter from the site, they will continue their constant observation. I will continue to stand alongside them. The fight for the rights of the people of Meriden continues.
PRESS RELEASE
OUTRAGE OF MEP AS SOLIHULL COUNCIL ATTEMPTS TO EVICT MERIDEN PROTESTORS
Issue Date: 2nd February 2012
An Independent West Midlands MEP has slammed Solihull Council’s decision to evict Meriden RAID protestors.
Nikki Sinclaire has worked closely alongside local Meriden residents who set up protest camp at the Eaves Lane site. The RAID group, who were set up as an opposition to the unwanted development of Green Belt land by the traveller’s site, have been joined by the local MEP on long and cold nights, and Nikki has vowed to continue to protest with them.
Following the news that Eric Pickles had dismissed the appeal for the travellers to stay on the land, both permanently and temporarily, the RAID group vowed to continue their protest until they saw the council take action to reclaim the land. In a twist of fate, it may now be the protestors that are evicted long before the travellers.
Nikki said of the latest developments,
“In the West Midlands, 20% of the area is classed as Greenbelt land. However, due to both the EU’s human rights culture and the UK government, travellers now have special rights. Everybody should have equal rights and have the right not to see the sanctity of their local environment ridden roughshod over as the result of this.
“This is Middle England standing up for itself, only to be slammed by Solihull Council. The people involved in the RAID protest camp have restored my faith in grass root politics and activism. When ordinary people speak, then politicians should listen.
“Over the time I have spent with this group, I have come to regard them as friends. I will continue the fight alongside them – they have not come this far for nothing”.
ENDS
