Protesters significantly raise the 'ante'

There were an estimated 300 protesters outside Elizabeth House on Monday, most of whom wore yellow T-shirts and brandished placards, flags and badges emblazoned with ‘Stop the Eco-Town.’

Although smaller than the 1,000-strong crowd who marched down the Greenway in February, before the eco-town had been shortlisted by government, it was clear that emotions are running higher than they were on the march to Long Marston. That was a veritable walk in the park with the protesters seeming to be as concerned with organising their social diaries as with protesting. In contrast, on Monday, they blocked the road, forcing police to divert traffic, and chanted raucously “Get off the fence”, “Sneco eco” and “Pain no gain,” though one campaigner was heard to mutter: “I don’t really approve of all this chanting.”

The protest, timed to coincide with the special Stratford District Council meeting at which the eco-town was eventually given unanimous disapproval, began at 12 noon with the arrival of the Bard campaign’s very own ‘Battle Bus.’

The double-decker bus, used on this occasion to deliver Bard’s 6,412-signature petition, looks impressive with banners and posters again promoting the anti eco-town message. But a quick look inside reveals a children’s ball-pit, slide, ‘pirate net’ and dance floor—not quite a call to arms. It turns
out that the battle bus is in fact a ‘big red party bus’ used by Long Marston resident Bruce Spinks for children’s birthday parties. He had agreed to loan it for use with the campaign.

Bard committee member Clive Moy told the Herald. “This is a highly emotional situation. This is the big meeting and we expected a large number to demonstrate. Although it was planned beforehand, it has become a spontaneous gathering as feelings are running very high.”

Asked what was next for the campaign, Mr Moy said he hoped that Stratford MP John Maples would be able to speak at a public meeting in the town on a date yet to be decided.

It might be a while yet before we see a further escalation of activism from the anti ecotown campaign, with a megaphone being used for the first time this week—but at least there’ll be a big red party bus to keep the kids happy.

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