Rallying cry to join lakes fight (From Herald Series)

Rallying cry to join lakes fight

4:06pm Saturday 17th February 2007

A RALLYING cry went out for Save Radley Lakes supporters to exercise their right to protest by taking part in a march by the lakes today.

Campaigners are furious that electricity giant RWE npower has taken out a High Court injunction placing restrictions on where they can protest.

"We've got to see if there is any way we can meet legal costs. If it were a battle between equals we would have won it by now."

Reverend Malcolm Carroll

On Thursday, npower contractors began cutting down trees on the two islands on Thrupp Lake.

This was the first stage in the company's plan to fill the lake with fly ash - a waste material from Didcot power station.

Pictured getting ready for the demonstration today, from left, are Len and Adrian Lambe, Alison Prewet and Jo Cartmell.

Campaigners hoped that more than 100 people would turn up for the march which started at Radley train station in Foxborough Road at 1.30pm.

It progressed along Thrupp Lane and past the eastern edge of Thrupp Lake.

Protesters initially sang and chanted but from the start of Thrupp Lane the protest became a silent one to highlight how protest was being stifled and "out of respect for the tranquillity of the lake".

The march paused beside Thrupp Lake and speeches were given by Andy Boddington from the Campaign for Rural England and Save Radley Lakes Campaigners Alison Prewett and Roger Thomas.

Protesters also wore gags to illustrate how they feel npower was stifling their right to protest.

Police gave the march the go ahead and protesters provided marshals.

March organiser Jo Cartmell said: "We want to march as we feel we have been portrayed as being a threat which we are clearly not.

"We are a close-knit community who are dismayed and angered by a corporation that has completely disregarded us."

Three people have been arrested for offences at the site. Christopher Ward has been released without charge and a second man, Anthony Bailey, is in hospital after breaking his arm while in police custody. A third man has been released on bail.

Police say they have not received any formal complaints by npower, npower employees or sub contractors about harassment or threatening behaviour at the lakes.

However, npower spokesman Leon Flaxman said the company had provided the police with information which had proved important in the lead up to arrests over trespass.

He added: "We have always said that we have no problem with people demonstrating and are happy to explain our point of view."

Reverend Malcolm Carroll, one of six people named in the injunction, said he was hoping it might be possible to apply for legal aid to fight npower in the courts.

He said: "We've got to chat to a few people to see if there is any way we can meet the legal costs. If it were a battle between equals we would have won it by now."

Civil rights group Liberty said: "Liberty has concerns about injunctions being granted which are binding on anyone who knows about them.

"Such injunctions may well have the effect of stifling legitimate protest about matters of genuine public concern."