Scottish CND News Faslane Peace Camp
PRESS RELEASE
FROM: FASLANE PEACE CAMP tel:0141 423 1222 or 01436 820 901
DATE: 09.04.98.
PUBLIC INQUIRY
FASLANE PEACE CAMPERS has sent a letter to the Scottish Office asking for a public inquiry into Argyll and Bute's attempted eviction of Faslane Peace Camp (see attached).
Argyll and Bute council has never discussed the eviction threat with the residents of Faslane Peace Camp - nor with the residents (and voters) of Argyll and Bute. Are the Councils actions an attempt to evict peace activists connected to the ministry of Defence's attempt to sell of woodlands adjacent to Faslane Peace Camp.
Montagu Evans property developers have been trying to sell this land on behalf of the M.O.D.. According to Montagu Evanses prospectus the front 9.5 acres of land is designated for residential development. Somebody, somewhere is going to make a fortune if the land is sold. Unfortunately for them the camp is right in front of this area. Montagu Evans can be contacted on 0141 204 2090. Argyll and Bute's Chief Executive Office can be contacted on 01546 604 263
For More details contact the Camp, cheers Rab Fulton.
From:
Faslane Peace Camp
Shandon
Helensburgh
G84 8NT
Tel: 01436 820 901
Date: 09.04.98.
To:
Calum MacDonald MP
Scottish Office Local Government Minister
Scottish Office
St.Andrew's House
Edinburgh, EH1 3DE
Dear Sir
I am writing to you on behalf of the residents of Faslane Peace Camp, to ask you to set up a public inquiry into Argyll and Bute Council's attempted eviction of Faslane Peace Camp.
We are concerned that the council has justified its eviction threat by stating that there is a petition against the camp signed by over nine hundred people. There is a petition from 1985 but it is against a seperate camp that no longer exists. We are also concerned about the suggestion that campers would be given council houses if they left the camp quietly. We would refuse such an offer if it was formally made. We believe it is wrong for councillors to encourage council house queue jumping simply to solve their political problems.
The camp has also been described as ugly. In fact it is a collection of low impact housing which is environmentally friendly,whose residents recycles their waste, tend the local woodlands, clean the local beach etc. As a local sustainable community we feel we should be supported under Agenda 21 - not evicted. The peace camp also brings thousands of visitors from around the world to Argyll and Bute every summer. These visitors shop locally, bringing trade to local retailers.
Which begs the question: why does Argyll and Bute council want use its time, money and skills to evict us? Is it an attempt to silence us because we have been succesful in highlighting the three hundred trident nuclear warheads based in Scotland. Or is the eviction connected to the Ministry of Defence's attempt to sell off woodlands adjacent to Faslane Peace Camp. Montagu and Evans, property developers, have been trying to sell this land on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. According to Montagu and Evanses prospectus the front 9.5 acres of this land is designated for residential development. The camp is located right beside this area.
We feel that Argyll and Bute council needs to explain the motivation behind the eviction threat and to justify its use of council resources to pursue the eviction. We feel this can only be done through the medium of a public inquiry.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours in peace
Pat Freeborn
on behalf of Faslane Peace Camp