Runnymede Eco Village; Call Security!

Dismaland closed today with this on the park website;

 

                                               Coming soon… Dismaland Calais.

All the timber and fixtures from Dismaland are being sent to the ‘jungle’ refugee camp near Calais to build shelters. No online tickets will be available.

 



I was struck by the similarity between this picture and what I saw this morning - I went for a walk in the woods along Cooper's Hill lane in Egham.

It's beautiful;

But I wasn't just there for the view, nice as it was. I was there to record what happened at The Runnymede Eco Village after the Bailiffs had trashed the place; 

When you walk around the perimeter fence, you pass from one destroyed home to another;

A scene of utter devastation;

Wherever you look there are items of furniture; chairs, beds;

While I was there, I was working up the dogs - they were running around barking at me;

And quite soon I got into a confrontation with a camera shy security guard;

They wanted me off and I don't respond very well to threats. As you can see, I don't do what I'm told either.

I'm afraid I've never been very good at multitasking so I don't have any shots of our confrontation!

The guards seem to be from eastern Europe and spent part of their time at least, picking through the wreckage of the village.

This is who they work for; 'GallowGlass security';

Formed in 1999, this is a fairly secretive organisation which is probably what you would expect. They specialise in two areas - 'Bailiff Support' which is what this is and also in 'Event Management'.

Amongst other things they were hired to build the fence around the Glastonbury Festival in 2013 and for all I know they may still be doing it.

Now I'm no hippy so you won't find me down at Glastonbury but I would have thought that these are not the kind of people you want running your security.

This is what they are best at;

The villagers had no time to gather their belongings - apart from children there were animals too;

And clothes;

The Peace Flag is still flying;

Anyway, it occurred to me after I had my little argument with security (didn't stop me did it?) - it must be costing the developers more than a few hundred pounds a day guarding the site.

Just suppose people came along every so often, just to wake up the dogs and keep the guards moving about.

It's a very pleasant walk;

Quite beautiful really;

Apart from the development site, Coopers Hill is full of public footpaths or paths that are permitted use by The National trust.

We should make more use of them because the longer the guards are there the more it costs the developers.

 

 

By the way, a 'GallowGlas' is a Scots/Norse mercenary. Not very nice people at all.

 

I would probably call them 'Housecarls' myself - more AngloSaxon and a better description of these thugs.

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

52000 Thanx! and a last Update on the Runnymede Eco camp.

 

 

I should be celebrating 52000 views but I've just had a really lousy day.

 

Robyn had to go up to London to sort out some documents.

The idea was to go up, sort things out and then go on and do something; the problem was that it poured with rain all day.

 

I ended up in the street getting soaked for an hour while I waited around then when we came home I got stuck in the rush hour and nearly lost it crammed in on the tube.

 

It really hurt!

 

I felt lousy but there was worse to come.

 

I've Blogged about the Runnymede Eco Camp many times and I was lucky enough to visit them in 2014. Back then I intended to spend a night there occasionally to support them but because I was a carer it never worked out.

 

Then I broke my back and that was the end of that.

 

It was an idyllic place, inhabited by families, children and some vulnerable individuals.

 

It was beautiful;

 

 

 

Last week they lost out at the High Court; the eviction order was confirmed.

 

The history of this is that the land above historic Runnymede was once public land, owned on behalf of us by Brunel University. There was a hall of residence and a sports field for the use of the students.

 

We paid for it all out of our taxes.

 

In this brave new world where public bodies act as if they are independent capitalist enterprises Brunel sold off the land to a development company which then demolished the accommodation to build luxury flats.

 

The land should never have been sold, it was ours.

 

The council should never have given planning permission for development in such a sensitive area.

 

The Eco camp was set up on the wooded slopes underneath the development, facing the meadows of Runnymede. Their settlement was sustainable and almost invisible - you wouldn't have known they were there unless you knew they were there.

 

But it was a problem for the developers; how could they sell their flats for outrageous amounts of money if there was an eco village nearby?

 

Today (Wednesday) the bailiffs went in, backed up by the Police and as these 'Get Surrey' photos show, they trashed the place; 

 



 

The homes were smashed up and the families and children lost their possessions and were made homeless;

 

 

It is appalling and brutal and unnecessary; a lot of people who were no trouble to anyone are now on the streets.

 

I am furious; apart from anything else I wanted to get down there to help and I couldn't because of my back.

 

And it poured with rain all day - an inch of rain in 12 hours.

 

As I write this there have been arrests, an injury and a few hardy protesters are still high up in the trees refusing to come down.

 

You can guess where I am in spirit!

 

The world is a worse place for what was done at Runnymede.

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesort outstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

Last stand at The Runnymede Eco-Village.

Sometimes it seems as though everything I write about is ending - over the Magna Carta celebrations the developers got their eviction notice against the Runnymede Eco-village people at Guildford County Court.

The prospects of fighting this are very slim but at the moment the eviction has stalled because the camp took their case to the High Court on appeal. There's a delay while the judge waits for a transcript of the lower hearing.

These pictures are from last year when I was invited to visit and then did a piece. I had plans - I was going to stay over and combine giving them my support as well has having one last camping 'trip'.

It wasn't to be - my Mum was getting more ill and then I broke my back.

I'm probably idealising it all, I visited in May after all. It was beautiful.

A muddy, cold December?

The people there have been living there for the last three years. there are families and children with nowhere else to go.

There are quite vulnerable people too, everyone was welcome.

Of course, the land should never have been sold - it was ours.

Technically it belonged to Brunel University but once that meant it belonged to all of us.

Since universities were given some kind of spurious independence they have been hunting for assets to sell off; in this case an old hall of residence.

You might think that tomorrow's students would have welcomed cheap and beautiful accommodation?

That was not to be.

The residence and the sports grounds have been torn up and expensive homes built on a plot of land that overlooks historic Runnymede and Ankerwycke and should have been preserved for future generations.

The Eco-village is on the wooded slopes - unusable for development. It's just that the wealthy new owners don't want the eco-warriors living next door.

I'm very angry about it all and angry that with a broken back there's nothing I can do.

I can't even visit because the site is too steep and uneven.

So, my good wishes and solidarity to all of you.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

Getting ready for the Magna Carta Celebrations.

This is the busy scene on Egham High street this week - the local council is putting up flags and banners for the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta.

As you can see, the high street was also full of volunteers;

Painting shields on all the street bollards, ready for the Magna Carta Fair on the 13th of June.

We're hoping to go although it's Wraysbury fair that afternoon and I'm planning to enter the craft fair again this year. We'll try to go to both.

The slogan on this banner is all very well except that none of these fine virtues have anything to do with the Magna Carta.

That was a peace treaty signed as a result of the Kings soldiers and the Barons armies having a face off on the meadows of Runnymede.

The Magna Carta wasn't signed there but across the river at Wraysbury.

Anyway, the barons were upset that a crazy king was having them locked up or imprisoned. The reality of Magna Carta is all in this clause on one of Runnymede's posters;

"No free man shall be seized or imprisoned except by the lawful judgement of his equals or by the law of the land"

The problem is that back then there were hardly any free men - except for barons, of course. There weren't any free women either.

Most people were serfs and they had no rights at all - they were the property of other men.

So all the other clauses giving, for example, property rights only applied to a tiny, all powerful minority.

Lots of bloody battles followed. It took a thousand years of struggles for us to win the few rights we have today.

It would be a shame to lose them.....we'd better keep fighting then.

Remember the old saying; "Put not your faith in Princes"

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

The Runnymede Ecovillage; under threat.

Very sad news; the Runnymede Ecovillage which I have written about several times is now under real threat.

You can read one of my Blogs about it at this link;

http://helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-runnymede-ecovillage-place-for-last.html

The occupants are now under real threat of eviction - the case is already at the County Court.

Even more seriously, a steel fence has been built around the site, with the potential of starving the residents out or preventing them from getting back in if they need medical treatment.

The Eco Village is a long term settlement created by The Diggers 2012, with the aim of reclaiming unused land for the people.

They live in charming home made shelters overlooking the historic meadow of Runnymede.

They leave a minimal impact on the environment; if you didn't know they were there you would never  spot them.

The residents are a real mixture who range from idealistic political activists to vulnerable homeless people who have found support from living in a caring community.

Up until now no one has worried about them being there; the developers are only concerned with making profits out of the flat land at the top of the hill. The steep woodland cliffs are of little value to them.

The real problem is that on June 15th there will be celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta. Rumour has it that the queen and president Obama will be there and no one wants The Diggers 2012 in the area.

It's very unfortunate that breaking my spine comes at this time; there's not much I can do to help.

Let's face it, I can't even get there to express my solidarity.

But this Blog can - if you can support them I would urge you to do so.

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me;  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

America day part two.

So, after going to the Kennedy memorial, we walked along the historic meadows of Runnymede, where the Magna Carta was supposedly signed 800 years ago this year.

Here's Robyn in front of The American Bar Association's memorial to the Magna Carta;

I guess some wealthy American lawyers had a trip here and couldn't believe there wasn't a memorial to the signing and so they built one in 1957.

There are a couple of problems with all this.

First of all; the opposing armies may have camped at Runnymede but the signing wouldn't have taken place there.

This beautiful house is on 'Magna Carta Island' on the opposite bank at Wraysbury.

It would make some sense for the signatories to meet away from the armies on the Island. The house was built later and although a lot of people believe that's where it was signed....you can't be sure.

 

 

 

This is a different view - across the road and behind both it and The River Thames, you are in the historic estate of Ankerwycke. You can just about make out the ruins of the old priory - a religious settlement of nuns from over 1000 years ago.

 

We all think this would be the kind of neutral territory away from both armies and on consecrated ground where no one would dare to kill any one. Also, there would be people who could read and write and could be trusted by parties who may not have been able to check the documents themselves.

 

 

The biggest problem? The Magna Carta was a deal to protect the lives and property of the wealthy barons; no one else had any property and their lives weren't worth living.

 

It took many centuries of protests to win the liberties we take for granted today.

 

At the end of our walk was the entrance of The Runnymede Ecovillage, which is todays protest against poverty and homelessness. I've written about them before and we'll probably make a separate trip there when it's a bit warmer.

 

 

Then we went home and had Hot Dogs with French's Mustard to finish off America day.

 

Hmmmmmmh!

 

Neil Harris

 

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home:  helpmesortoutstp[eters.blogspot.com

 

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 

 

America day.

Sunday was a beautiful day. It was cold but very clear, crisp and it was sunny for the first time in weeks. We took a trip to America.

These steps are leading up to the J.F.Kennedy memorial at Runnymede. Built just after the assassination, this territory is forever America. I have no idea why this was done or why a myth has grown up that Kennedy was such a great president; he invaded Cuba, took us to the brink of nuclear destruction and started the Vietnam war. I think it says a lot more about Britain's unimportance in the world than anything else. 

But it was a really nice day, even though winter is still in charge.

The memorial is well looked after and there are a constant stream of visitors.

 

 

 

I suppose it's hard to remember just how shocked everyone was that a president could be killed; it's not so unusual these days.

 

 

Neil Harris

(a don't stop till you drop production)

 

Home;  helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com

Contact me: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com

 



The Runnymede Ecovillage - a place for a last stand maybe.

 

A chance meeting in The Hobgoblin last week led me into an adventure on Monday that helped me forget about my coming appointment down at Oncology the next day.

 

How beautiful is that view? It’s the view from the front door of the house of some new friends and comrades.

It’s also the view from the wooded escarpment that overlooks the ancient meadows of Runnymede by the banks of the River Thames.

That’s near where The Magna Carta was signed after a confrontation between the armies of the Barons and the army of the King – the start of the long battle for the rights we are still trying to win today.

High above, in the treetops are 'The Diggers 2012' – and they have been there, gloriously, for the last two years.

Here’s their communal kitchen by the front door;

 

Two years ago they marched from London to sieze some of the Queens lands for the people – they didn’t get where they were going because the police stopped them but they set up camp here.

And here they built their homes;

 

These are some of the terraced beds for vegetables and the beginning of a geodesic dome. Here are some of the well cared for chickens;

 

There are ducks too, a spring for water and soon a pig.

They are Diggers, inspired by Robert Winstanley who believed that the land was given by god to us all.

These Diggers of 2012 are secular like me - but they are still seizing unused land and protecting it from the rapacious capitalist developers who are all around.

Here’s one of the ecohouses they have built;

 

And this charming glade is one of the peaceful communal areas where I was welcomed;

Here are just a few of the homes – dappled in sunlight as it drifted through the treetops.

They have been evicted three times – the land 'belongs' to developers who 'bought' it from the University of London - who should never have sold it in the first place.

From the peace and quiet of the camp, you can hear the developers at work nearby;

 

As the weeks go by you will see more of the camp on this Blog and maybe they will let me be an occasional visitor – I used to love camping in wild places but I can’t get away to do that anymore.

This would be a last chance for me to spend a night or two under the stars and the trees – and also perhaps a chance of a last confrontation with ‘authority’ too – maybe a good place for a last stand. We will see what happens.

Here are Billy Bragg's lyrics to give you a history of The Diggers;


The World Turned Upside Down

In 1649
To St. George's Hill,
A ragged band they
called the Diggers
Came to show the people's will
They defied the landlords
They defied the laws
They were the
dispossessed reclaiming
what was theirs

We come in peace they said
To dig and sow
We come to work the lands in common
And to make the waste ground grow
This earth divided
We will make whole
So it will be
A common treasury for all

The sin of property
We do disdain
No man has any right
to buy and sell
the earth for private gain
By theft and murder
They took the land
Now everywhere the walls
Spring up at their command

They make the laws
to chain us as well
The clergy dazzle us with heaven
or they damn us into hell
We will not worship
The God they serve
The God of greed who feeds the rich
while poor folk starve

We work we eat together
We need no swords
We will not bow to the masters
Or pay rent to the lords
we are free man
Though we are poor
You Diggers all stand up for glory
Stand up now

From the men of property
The orders came
They sent the hired
men and troopers
To wipe out the Diggers' claim
Tear down their cottages
Destroy their corn
They were dispersed
But still the vision lingers on

You poor take courage
You rich take care
This earth was made a
common treasury
For everyone to share
All things in common
All people one
We came in peace the orders came to cut us down

Original lyrics by Leon Rosselson.
Click on a picture for a slideshow.

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Flood update; Staines, Wraysbury, Runnymede and Colnebrook at Midnight February 8 2014.

Saturday 8/2/14, Midnight.

I went out tonight to The Hobgoblin, Staines. I'm behind with posts so it will be up on Monday.

This morning we got the warning that The Colne had flooded at Colnebrook which is upstream from us.

I was at Egham in the afternoon, Runnymede, the Hotel and the road to Old Windsor was flooded and the road closed by Police.

On my way out to Staines, the Lammas Park was completely flooded as was the road next to it.

At the concert I called my Mum - her carers couldn't get to her, so I drove to her to put her to bed. The controller rang me - no one could get through from Datchet and Horton (next to Colnebrook) is flooded.

The floodmarker is on The River Colne, just before it joins the Thames, which has flooded at Runnymede. So the water hasn't anywhere to go and it's as high as it was back at the end of January - nearly five foot above normal.

Should be fun tomorrow!

Neil Harris
(a don't stop till you drop production)

A hedge story.

I’m having a bleak time at the moment, losing all my battles, all at once.

This morning, crisp and bright, in between showers of rain I walked down to Ankerwycke which would have been where the planespotters would have stood to watch the big jets taking off from Heathrow Airport’s newest runway. In the event it isn’t happening – not here anyway.

This is National Trust Land even though that wouldn’t have saved it. And the wardens have been busy;

 

This is a hedge that was planted about 5 or 6 years ago. Now it’s grown up it’s been ‘laid’.

 

The trees and bushes are cut near the ground but only part of the way through. It means they go on growing and create a dense interlocking hedge that cows can’t get through. It’s early days yet which is why there is also a wire fence until its ready. It's a thing of beauty.

In this part of the world these hedges are alien – it was always pollarded willow trees, linked together. That’s probably because livestock wasn’t so common – hooves don’t like waterlogged ground.

I miss the willows – when they are pollarded they make ghostly shapes in the mist and when they grow out you get the classic weeping willow shape.

A changing landscape with a wild look.

Yesterday, the great Train Robber Ronnie Biggs died.  

About a mile from this hedge, down by the river Thames is where Buster Edwardes, another Great Train Robber hid out until he headed off to Mexico. Who knows, maybe Ronnie hid there too. Perhaps I should post a few more shady stories of the underworld from these parts?

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutstpeters.blogspot.com
Contact:  neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com