On 1st April Argyll and Bute Council today went to Dumbarton Sheriff Court to try to evict the Peace Campers from the site which they have occupied outside the Trident nuclear base for 16 years. The Court heard from former Strathclyde Regional Councillor Iain Macdonald how the Council had given the Peace Camp a lease in 1982 because they were opposed to nuclear weapons. Les Robertson from Renton described how he was one of the original residents who set up the camp in June 1982. Initially they were in tents and later in caravans. Both Les and another former camper Phill Jones described how they had brought up their families while living at the camp. The Court room was packed full of Peace Camp supporters.
Following legal submissions from Peter Farrell, the lawyer representing the peace campers, Sheriff Simon Fraser decided to adjourn the case until10 am on Monday 6th April at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.. Supporters of the Camp will be gathering again on that occasion.
The Peace Camp site is now ready for a forced eviction with tree houses and tunnels. Argyll and Bute Council have failed to give any reason why they are trying to evict the camp. Many local people have signed a petition supporting the Peace Camp.
"From today onwards all British nuclear weapons will be based in Scotland. At this time it is particularly important that the Camp continues. It is Trident which should be evicted, not Faslane Peace Camp."
said Brian Quail, Joint Secretary of Scottish CND.