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News and weather for Douglas and Glespin
Items for the Douglas & Glespin weekly newspaper column are collated by Karen Houston, Douglas. Deadline for submissions are no later than Sunday 9pm. Tel / Fax - 01555 851750, email - KarenagnesH@aol.com. To have your organisation promoted on this website; dates and times of meetings, forthcoming events etc, etc, please email your information to DouglasCCouncil@aol.com, remembering to include your name and contact details, so we can put them on the relevant page, so interested parties locally or around the world can get in touch with you...and it's FREE.
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If you wish to comment on any of our news stories or our website please click HERE Janes Calamity - 14 March 2010
Annual Panto Show
"Jane's Calamity"
Douglas Primary School
17th - 20th March
7.30pm
Copyright of Lindsay Addsion MP backs campaigns 14 March 2010  Mundell backs local quarry campaign
MP concerned over impact on local community of new mine working
I am backing my rural Clydesdale constituents in their opposition to a proposed new quarry at Overburns. I have made my objections to the proposed sand and gravel quarry for a number of reasons, not least its proximity to the River Clyde. The local anti-quarry campaigners have my backing, as I do not accept this is the best and only source available to the developers. I hope this is thrown out when it comes before planners in the light of such strong local opposition. In my view it is industrialisation of the picturesque Upper Clyde valley and is simply in the wrong place.
I also lodged my objection to the new opencast coal mine at Mainshill on the outskirts of Douglas. In my view planning permission should not have been given for these new opencast workings at this time and I am concerned about the cumulative impact of such opencast work in the Douglas Valley going on at the same time. It is my view that one mine should be finished before another is started and I will continue to work with local people to highlight their concerns as the works proceed.
There is only so much development that the Upper Clyde Valley can take at one time and I will continue to speak out against over industrialisation.
SLC Household Survey 11 March 2010
To let them know your views, click on the link below... NO BARRICADE NOW - Gazette 11 March 2010
NO BARRICADE NOW
A protester at the Mainshill Wood opencast mining site claims that he was bullied by police officers arresting him at the camp near Douglas.
The allegations of Benjamin Nunn (22) came during his trial at Lanark Sheriff Court as he denied causing a breach of the peace at the wood on October 26 last year.
The court heard that a specialist police squad had to be called to remove Nunn from a hut he had created as part of a barricade on one of the forestry roads.
The road was being used by contractors felling the woodland in preparation for the site's opencast mine.
The wood became the centre of a long-running campaign by environmentalists who created a camp there as a base for their attempts to disrupt this work.
However, Nunn claimed during his trial that he had nothing to do with actions being taken by the main body of protesters on the day of his arrest.
Barricade
He claimed he defied repeated orders from police to voluntarily leave the hut within the barricade and stood his ground because of the "bullying attitude" of some officers, rather than any deliberate attempt to hold up the project.
The court heard that police had been called to Mainshill on the morning of October 26 when workers wishing to start clearing the part of the forest in which Nunn was camped found their access barred by his hut and the surrounding barricade made of logs.
Four police officers gave broadly similar evidence on the actions they took that day, a version of events Nunn contested.
 One of the specialist officers called to the scene, Constable Thomas McShane (35) of the Lock-on Protester Removal Unit of Strathclyde Police, said that he had tried to reason with Nunn, talking to him through a hole in the top of the hut.
Nunn had his arm inside a metal pole within the hut which, officers using an endescope mini-camera of the type usually used in surgical operations, could clearly see.
The officer told the court that he had asked Nunn to let go of the piece of metal inside the pole and leave the hut but claimed that the protester had refused, saying "he wanted to see our cutting gear working".
The officer said he told Nunn that they wouldn't be using cutting gear but would be using "reasonable force" to pull him away from the pole and then out of the hut.
"I warned him several times we were going to do this and told him that he had made his point.
"For a moment he looked as if he might co-operate but he kept holding on. Constables Lord and Judge (fellow Unit members) then pulled his arm free and got him out. He gave very little resistance."
The offficer in charge at the scene, the now retired Inspector Robert Waterson (55), said that he had looked into the cabin Nunn had built and saw him sitting there.
He said: "He looked well prepared; he had a sleeping bag, food, water and a clockwork radio."
The court later heard from Nunn himself that the hut even had carpets and shelves and was fully waterproofed from the elements.
A crucial part of Nunn's defence was that his hut had been built some weeks before his arrest and that forestry workers had no problem getting their vehicles and machinery around it.
The police inspector partly refuted this claim, stating that concrete used to secure poles within the hut was still wet and unset when he and his fellow officers arrived there.
The court also heard evidence from a worker on the site that, although the hut had been there for some time and had not prevented access to the site, a barricade had later been built around it entirely blocking the roadway shortly before the police were called.
Arrested
Nunn gave evidence, claiming that, while going to Mainshill "because the people of Douglas were getting an opencast mine they didn't want forced on them by big business", he was not part of any action being taken by the main body of protesters that day.
"I didn't go there to get arrested. I just wanted to see what it would be like to live in a wood.
"The police, when they came, didn't request that I leave, like they claim; they told me that I was being arrested whether I came out voluntarily or not.
"There was no choice and their bullying attitude made me stand my ground. Perhaps it was the wrong thing to do."
Sheriff Nikola Stewart rejected a defence motion that the case be dropped as the Crown had failed to prove that a breach of the peace had taken place, on the grounds that no-one was actually alarmed or disturbed by Nunn's actions.
She went on to convict Nunn, of Copeland Road, Glasgow-Sentence was deferred until April 14 for background reports.By our Court Reporter
Carluke & Lanark Gazette 11/3/10
This weeks news 11 March 2010 One O’clock Club – Winners of games played on Tuesday March 2 were, dominoes – Jenny Taylor, challenge dominoes – Jenny McAdam, bowls – Robert Gardiner & Jenny Morris & whist – Campbell Sloan.
WRI – On Thursday 25 February, members held their 90th Anniversary in the Cornhill Hotel. Invited guests included Marion Davidson - Federation National Chairman, Jessie Meikle - Lanarkshire Federation Chairman and Eileen Miller who was a Past President of Douglas rural. Mrs Jenny Hastie who is the longest active serving member cut the cake. After a lovely meal Ann Taylor entertained us with a poem of her life in the rural and a quiz with some of the members and guests taking part. We would like to thank the staff at the Cornhill and the driver of the bus for making this a memorable evening
Douglas Victoria Bowling Club – There will be a Karaoke and Disco in the Bowling Green on Saturday 20 March at 8pm. A £2 cover charge will apply. The Club are also holding a ‘Night with Christian’ on Friday 16 April at 8pm. Tickets priced £7.50 can be ordered at the bar or by calling Tom on 07952509199.
Douglas Valley Church – The minister Robert Cleland led worship on Sunday March 7. If you know of anyone who would appreciate flowers from the church, please speak to Mrs Shona Nimmo, flower convenor. Mrs Irene Smith, church secretary should have any notices for inclusion in next week’s service sheet by Friday at the latest. The annual stated meeting will take place after a joint service at Rigside Church this Sunday March 14 at 10.30am. This Saturday brings a visit from the Moderator of the Church of Scotland to our congregation. He hopes to be at Rigside Church around 10am and then onto Lady Home Hospital before arriving at Douglas St. Brides about 12 noon.
Flower Show – The amount raised at the recent Flower Show bingo was £427. The committee would like to thank all who attended and donated prizes. They would also like to thank the Bowling Green and Andrew Morrison for calling the numbers. Many thanks again for all your support.
Flower Show schedules are now printed and are available from Douglas Post Office, St. Brides Community Centre, Bain’s fruit van and Joan Gold at 41a Ayr Road, Douglas. Entry forms for this years ‘Best Kept Garden’ and ‘Scarecrow’ competitions can be found within the schedules. The best kept garden and scarecrow competitions will be judged in August, so there is plenty of time to prepare for both. Watch out for more details nearer the time.
True sense of community - Letter to Gazette editor 04 March 2010  True sense of community
Dear Ed,
May I, on behalf of a very significant number of residents, thank all of the protesters for their tremendous effort of opposition to the Mainshill opencast site over the last seven months, which included some of the worst winter weather in a  century.
From the outset, the scale of the fight to prevent the inevitable pollution associated with this operation was clear when, on a political level, only our current MP was prepared to provide token support in his stated objection to the plans.
All other politicians remained at arms' length, with the exceptions of one local politician and one former local politician.
The distribution of the Coal Health Study to residents, politicians, medical professions and landowners, highlighting the comparative unusually high incidence of disease and calling for thorough independent investigations, although unchallenged, has been similarly ignored.
Instead both the coal company and the landowners have preferred to fulfil their pursuit of profit, as is the nature and priority with all private companies.
No one who lives in the Douglas Valley should be in any doubt that actions speak louder than words. Shareholder interests will always be paramount to both of these companies; you and your family will always be a secondary consideration.
The undue haste to exploit this particular site concurrently with four other operational coal sites within the area may best be explained by the increase in coal prices from $30 / tonne in January 2000 to $219 / tonne in July 2008 representing an asset value for Mainshill of $372.3 million the profits of which will be shared by the coal company and the landowner.
 No doubt the request made by the local GP that Scottish Coal pay for Douglas cottage hospital to be fitted with double glazing to prevent dust ingress will be met but this will not protect patients who may wish to enjoy some time in the grounds of the hospital which until now have provided a fillip to many long term patients with its beautiful scenic setting Perhaps in time, when elections are due and the NHS once again becomes the priority for all would-be members of both parliaments, the focus will return to the health of the potential voters; promises will be made that no stone will be left unturned to discover the cause of the 60 per cent increase in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease incidence, 44 per cent increase in asthma and 250 per cent increase in cancer rates in the Douglasdale Practice Area since 2005.
In an age when communities are becoming increasingly fractured and disparate and "community"  needs are hijacked for the benefit of others, there are lessons to be learnt from Mainshill, none more so than the true community demonstrated by residents and protesters alike in common cause against this particular proposal and the detrimental effects it will bring to Douglas cottage hospital.
 The commitment and belief in their cause and the respect for others shown by the protesters, who are in the main from our younger generation, was at times humbling and many local myths were dispelled by the ability to endure extreme conditions, even drawing grudging admiration from opponents.The time has surely come when decisions such as Mainshill should face more intense public scrutiny and such decisions should be made in the interest of society as a whole and not for the benefit of the privileged few assisted by their sycophantic hangers-on as they scramble for the crumbs falling from the rich man's table.
Yours etc.
Adam Lawson,
Douglas.
Pictures from the top
To read more about the Mainshill protest, click on the link below Looking for your attention at the Centre 01 March 2010 Looking for your attention at the Centre
In it Iain outlines a number of issues and provides information about the centre.
To read the first issue click on the link below.
St Brides Church Community Centre can be contacted at the following...
By post - Braehead, Douglas, Lanark, ML11 0PT
Telephone - 01555 850019 This weeks news 26 February 2010 Prize Bingo – Douglas Flower Show committee is holding a prize bingo in the Bowling Green on Wednesday March 3 at 7pm. Tea tickets costing £1 are available at the door on the night. Any donations can be handed into 9 Addison Drive. Your continued support is very much appreciated.
Douglas Valley Church – The minister Robert Cleland led worship on Sunday February and read the lesson. If you know of anyone who would appreciate flowers from the church, please speak to Mrs Shona Nimmo, flower convenor. Mrs Irene Smith, church secretary should have any notices for inclusion in next week’s service sheet by Friday at the latest. Found verse...lost valley 15 February 2010
Found verse...lost valley
As the latest episode in the rape and destruction of the Douglas Valley landscape gets under way at Mainshill, I wonder what erstwhile civic leader in Douglas, William McQueen, who penned the following lines in the early part of the 20th century, would think of it all now. Particularly in relation to McQueens’ perception of the Douglas nobles as steeped in grace and goodness
‘Snuggling in a peaceful valley, on the Douglas Water side
Hills o’ grandeur, plains inspiring, place where beauty canna hide
Douglas Castle, famed in story, hameland o’ ancestral race
Seat o’ noble thoctfu’ kindly, man o’ guidness, man o’ grace
Toonie true to Scots tradition, toon o’ covenanter line
Honest men and bonnie lasses, best o’a’ it does combine
Set ‘mangst scenes o’ rugged uplands, miles away fae clangin’ toon
Place romantic, place historic, place for dreamer settling doon'
 It is heartbreaking and so helplessly frustrating to see such a place of grandeur being torn apart at the behest of so few, in the pursuit of private profit. Despite overwhelming opposition, pleas to the incumbent Earl, and local and national government, to halt the ravages, have been condescendingly dismissed.
The principal asset this valley had, as so aptly described above, is disappearing fast and can never be reclaimed.
Kenny Sludden
Douglas
SURFACE SHOT FIRED - Gazette 13 February 2010 SURFACE SHOT FIRED
 Protesters have grilled Scottish Coal bosses on proposals to extract a further 500,000 tonnes of coal from the existing Glentaggart Surface Mine in Glespin.
Prior to their recent eviction, campaigners camped out for eight months at Mainshill Wood in protest at Scottish Coal getting permission to mine 1.7 million tonnes of coal there.
The protesters were also furious at plans for a similar scheme in a neighbouring village.
Arid they made their voices heard at a recent meeting with Scottish Coal bosses.
Protester Anna Keith, one of six Mainshill Wood demonstrators to attend a six-hour pre-application consultation public event in Glespin Hall, said: "I'm furious at this proposal for Glentaggart.
"There were a few local people at the Glespin Hall meeting and they were all really angry at what is going on.
"Although there were sheets of paper for people to write their views on the proposed mining, the consultation was a total farce.
"The Scottish Coal people said that they would only take opinions into consideration if they were appropriate.
"So Scottish Coal will decide if they are appropriate or not !"
When Mainshill Wood protesters said to the manager that the consultation was a farce, he replied: 'If it is a farce then so be it'.
"Scottish Coal does not seem to have any consideration for the lives of local people who are going to be affected by any extension.
"We are standing in solidarity with the locals in the area who don't want this."
Anna also slammed the accuracy of information presented by Scottish Coal at Glespin Hall.
"It was ridiculous," she said. "Scottish Coal said that no water would be affected by the additional mining, yet there is a river running right through the middle of where it is going to extract.
"And the officials couldn't provide an answer when we asked how much carbon would be emitted because of the high volume of cars and trucks on the site.
"Scottish Coal said that these questions would be answered later but they never were.
"I would urge the planning committee to block this proposal. They should think about how this work could adversely affect the health of local people, plus its wider environmental impact."
A spokesman for Scottish Coal responded by saying: "The purpose of the pre-application consultation was to comply with planning requirements by making the public aware of this proposal.
"It was felt that the detailed questions raised were not relevant to the specifics of the extension or the general proposal for the mine.
"But we take the concerns of Mainshill demonstrators and local people very seriously and want further dialogue with them.
"There will be further opportunities for these people to present us with their opinions after the extension planning application is lodged."
Scottish Coal proposes to extract up to 500,000 tonnes of coal from Glentaggart within 30 months. Restoration of the site would take a further 12 months.
Five million tonnes of coal have been unearthed from Glentaggart Surface Mine since 2001.
The recent Glespin Hall meeting attracted some 20 visitors and eight written comments were received on the day.
Protesters bail to Birkhill - Gazette 07 February 2010
Protesters bail to Birkhill - Gazette
As the evictions continued at Mainshill in Douglas, where protesters against an opencast coal site have been camping in the wood for seven months, business was brisk at Lanark Sheriff Court, with over 40 brought there from custody.
On Tuesday the court sat until 6.45pm to hear the initial cases involving 19 protesters taken into custody on Monday, the first day of the evictions.
All pled not guilty to various charges, generally involving aggravated trespass, and all were released on bail conditions, most of them giving a bail address at Birkhill House, Coalburn. Bail conditions included an agreement that they would not return to Mainshill.
A further six protesters were brought to court from custody on Wednesday, along with one woman who appeared on an undertaking, relating to charges arising from Tuesday's evictions.
All seven were released on bail after agreeing that they would not return to Mainshill, and the six who appeared from custody were all granted bail to the Birkhill House address. All seven denied the charges facing them.
Oliver Munnion (24) and Michael Starkey (21) were charged with trespassing on land on which people were engaged in lawful activity, the execution of an eviction order, and of tying themselves together in a treehouse intending to disrupt or obstruct the eviction.
Esther Tew (24) and Rosie Barker (22) faced a similar charge of intending to obstruct the eviction by sheriff officers by locking on to each other while suspended 30 feet in the air from a treehouse.
Danya Ellis (21) was also charged with intending to obstruct the eviction, and that alleged that she had locked herself to a metal entrance to a tunnel.
The charge facing Sophie Bastable (22) alleged that she had refused to descend from a treehouse and climbed further up the tree, to obstruct the eviction.
Rosalind Bullen (30), the only one not to appear from custody, faced a charge of breach of the peace, alleging that she disrupted staff working on the site, placed her arms round the boom of a JCB and attempted to lock herself to a JCB.
In her case the fiscal opposed bail, but Sheriff Valerie Johnston allowed it, after confirming that she too would not return to Mainshill. Trial dates in May were set for all of them.
Appearing from custody on Thursday were eight protesters arrested the previous day, seven from Mainshill and one from Ravenstruther Coal Transfer Station.
Court No2 was set aside for the appearances with Sheriff Derek Livingston there to hear the cases.
All those arrested at Mainshill faced trespass charges alleging that they obstructed a legal eviction being carried ourt by Sheriff Officers, with an alternative of breach of the peace. All those arrested at Mainshill pleaded not guilty and trial dates were set for them.
All were bailed with special conditions that they not only desist from re-entering Mainshill Wood but also the other opencast industry sites in Clydesdale which have been the target for environmental protests — namely the Ravenstruther Transfer Station and mines at Poneil, Broken Cross and Glentaggart.
First in the dock was Mary Hunter (24), care of Birkhill House, Coalburn; she was accused of obstructing the Sheriff Officers by refusing to come out of a runnel.
After her solictor entered a not guilty plea and a request for bail, depute fiscal Gary Dow said that he would not be opposing bail but wanted the special conditions on the opencast sites imposed.
The solictor, who acted for all those appearing, argued against the condition covering the sites other than Mainshill itself, stating that the standard condition not to offend while on bail would be adequate to prevent further incidents.
However, Sheriff Livingston ruled that the special conditions were not unreasonable and Hunter and the subsequent Mainshill protesters accepted this ruling.
The others arrested at Mainshill to appear were Daniel Milnes (22), Heta Heta Haavisto (26), Nathan Samari (23), Angus Chalmers (17), David Shand (24) and Jake Butcher (24). All gave the Birkhill House address, with the exception of Haavisto who gave his as the Faslane Peace Camp.
Trial dates in May and June were set.
The only person to appear not arrested at Mainshill was Rory Walker (23), of 8 Blades Street, Lancaster, apprehended on Wednesday conducting a one-man protest at Ravenstruther Transfer Station.
He pleaded guilty to causing a breach of the peace by climbing onto the roof of a coal transport lorry and refusing to come down; work at the transfer station was held up for some hours as special equipment was brought in to allow police to bring him safely to the ground.
Sheriff Livingston noted that Walker had no previous convictions and had carried out his action "for the best of motives but you crossed an acceptable line."
He deferred sentence on Walker for three months, ordering him to be of good behaviour; the sheriff said that, should Walker not re-offend in the interim, he would recommend the sheriff finally sentencing him should admonish him.
Friday saw a further nine protesters, all arrested at Mainshill the previous day, appear in custody, charged with obstructing the eviction action with the alternative of causing a breach of the peace; all pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.
Again, the fiscal asked that all the open cast sites plus the rail station be ruled exclusion zones for the protesters but Sheriff Nikola Stewart, presiding on Friday, said that the condition should apply only to Mainshill.
She commented: "I'm not going to start banning people from going to other parts of Scotland unless I have evidence in front of me that there is real cause to suppose they will commit an offence there. In the absence of that, I will limit the condition to Mainshill."
Friday's accused all gave Birkhill House as an address and were given various trial dates in May and June.
They were: Natalia De Santos (21), Samuel Jones (24), Eleanor Julings (23), William Roper (22), Behia Evans (21), Sophie Preston (24), Lorna Marcham (24), Elizabeth Whelan (24) and Richard Shore (25).
Police sources indicated on Friday that these were the last arrests expected at Mainshill and that the site was now clear of protesters.
But protesters were non-committal when asked by the Gazette if this was their understanding of the situation.
The protesters have had months to dig underground hides in the woods.
It is understood that, as a result, an almost inch-by-inch search of areas of woodland is being carried out before bulldozers are then sent in to clear the area of vegetation and protest camp debris.
Deep mining in Douglas: a history - Gazette 06 February 2010
 Deep mining in Douglas: a history
Despite all the controversy over the past year regarding mining in the Douglas Valley no-one could argue that the area has a rich mining heritage.
For more than 100 years, deep mining was a part of the community giving the area job security and economic prosperity.
Thanks to a changing economy and lack of investment deep mining was consigned to history in the late 1960s.
To view pictures and read the online Carluke and Lanark Gazette article by Ross Thomson click on the link below
4/2/10 This weeks news 05 February 2010
One O’clock Club – Winners of games played on Tuesday January 26 were dominoes – Mary Paterson, challenge dominoes – Jenny Hastie, bowls – Peggy Brown & Jenny Morris & whist – Jenny McAdam.
WRI – On Thursday January 28 the member’s night was held in St Brides Centre. The committee prepared a buffet meal and South Lanarkshire’s Christmas Meal Grant funded this. Members from Coalburn and Carnwath joined us for the evening and Ultimate Karaoke provided entertainment. The committee are pleased to announce that we have received funding of £6041.00 from ‘Awards For All Scotland’ to hold various events in this the 90th anniversary of Douglas WRI. The first event is an anniversary dinner in The Cornhill House Hotel on Thursday 25th February.
Douglas Senior Citizens – The February social evening will be held in St. Brides Centre on Wednesday February 10 at 6.30pm and transport will be the usual arrangement. Bobby & Nancy will supply the entertainment for the evening. Will members who are going to Cornhill House Hotel on Thursday February 4, please remember the bus will leave from the Douglas Arms Hotel at 5.30pm sharp.
St. Brides Guild – It was appropriate that the guest speaker for the Guild on January 25 was Dr Sandy Addison, as his subject was the life and times of Robert Burns. He gave an informative insight into the lifestyle of Scotland during Burns’ lifetime. The hostesses on the afternoon were Margaret Bannatyne and Susan Wilkinson.
Douglas Valley Church – The minister Robert Cleland led worship on Sunday January 31 and Mrs Jeanette Fleming read the lesson. If you know of anyone who would appreciate flowers from the church, please speak to Mrs Shona Nimmo, flower convenor. Mrs Irene Smith, church secretary should have any notices for inclusion in next week’s service sheet by Friday at the latest.
Mainshill eviction news headlines 31 January 2010
Click on link below for the Mainshill page of the Coal Action Scotland website 43 Arrested as Open-Cast Protest Eviction Enters Day Five - MSC 29 January 2010 43 Arrested as Open-Cast Protest Eviction Enters Day Five
As the eviction of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp enters its fifth day, the
number of arrests has now reached 43, with more expected over the weekend. This
eviction is the largest of its kind in the last eleven years, since protesters
were removed from the site of Manchester Airport's second runway in 1999.
Supporters of the camp have maintained a 24-hour vigil outside the camp since
Monday, and continue to do so now.
The eviction is the climax of a seven-month occupation of the proposed new
open-cast coal site at Mainshill Wood, near Douglas, South Lanarkshire. During
this time, occupants constructed defences such as tunnels, treehouses, and
bunkers, in preparation for the onslaught of bailiffs, police, and machinery.
Over 28 acts of direct action in opposition to coal mining in the area have
taken place at Mainshill and in neighbouring open-cast mines and other coal
infrastructure.
The actual cost of the eviction has not been disclosed, but will be revealed in
subsequent court cases. Based on previous site evictions, costs are estimated
to be in the millions of pounds (1). Scottish Coal, incidentally, is footing
the bill.
The Mainshill Solidarity Camp has vowed that the fight to stop the fifth
open-cast coal mine in the Douglas Valley is not yet over. Fiona, an occupier
of the camp, said: "We may have been arrested and bailed away from the site of
Mainshill Wood, but our solidarity with the local communities in the Douglas
Valley is enduring. The campaign will be taken to new levels as the struggle
against Scottish Coal and corrupt politicians intensifies."
While the eviction ended the seven-month occupation of Mainshill Wood, many are
seeing this as the beginning of a concerted community-based direct action
campaign against the expansion of the coal industry in the central belt of
Scotland and beyond.
As part of this expansion, some 18 new open-cast sites have either been proposed
or approved in Scotland (2), raising massive concerns over impacts on
communities (3) and the climate. A protester from Mainshill calling himself
Magpie said: "As Climate Chaos grows exponentially worse, it is becoming more
and more important to resist and obstruct the ever enlarging fossil fuel
industry. We will do everything in our power to make the extraction, transport,
and burning of coal as financially unviable as possible by continuing to fight
against it at every step of the way, from the mines to the power stations."
Support from locals has been invaluable to the occupiers of Mainshill during the
last seven months, and many community members came to join the 24-hour vigil as
the occupiers were taken from the camp. Lindsay Addison, chairperson of Douglas
and Glespin Community Council (4) said, "We are sad to see this part of our
community so forcefully taken from us by the same people destroying our health
and our countryside. Why is it not a crime to dig up and burn coal when we know
that the planet and people are suffering because of it? Why would you arrest and
criminalise the people trying to protect the planet? The real criminals are
those making this mine happen against the wishes of the community."
Media contact: 07500163480
http://mainshill.noflag.org.uk
Notes:
(1) A protest camp at Dalkeith in 2006 cost £1.9 million and took 11 days to
evict.
(2) Coal Action Scotland Targets Brochure _http://coalactionscotland.noflag.org.uk/?page_id=10_
(3) Information on the health impacts of open cast mines can be found in the
Douglasdale Edition of the Coal Health Study online:
_http://coalhealthstudy.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/douglasdale_v42.pdf_
(4) The Douglas Community Council has been staunchly against the open cast and
has supported the Mainshill Solidarity Camp since the start,
_http://www.douglascommunitycouncil.info
Mainshill protesters moved on - Gazette 28 January 2010 Mainshill protesters moved on
The eviction of a hardy band of environmental protesters at Mainshill Wood has finally started although those demonstrating maintained they would not leave quietly.
At 8.30am on Monday the National Eviction Team and Strathclyde Police began the long process of removing protesters from the wood, with 19 arrests reported.
However, with tunnels, treehouses and enough food to feed a small country, it seems the protest, which began seven months ago, is far from over.
Protester Ross Jones spoke to the Gazette from his treehouse....
By Ross Thomson
28 January 2010
For pictures and to read the online story click on the link below This weeks news 28 January 2010 Douglas Valley Church – On Sunday January 4, the minister Rev Robert Cleland led worship and Mrs Margaret Bannatyne read the lesson. If you know of anyone who would appreciate flowers from the church, please speak to Mrs Shona Nimmo, flower convenor or leave a note in the box at the south door. Church secretary Mrs Irene Smith should have any notices for inclusion in next week’s service sheet by Friday at the latest. ‘Life and Work’ magazines are available from Elizabeth Savala or from the church office.
One O’clock Club – Winners of games played on Tuesday January 19 were, dominoes – Margaret Laidlaw, challenge dominoes – Jean Crawford & whist – Mary Ramage.
Prize Bingo – Douglas Flower Show committee is holding a prize bingo in the Bowling Green on Wednesday March 3 at 7pm. Tea tickets costing £1 are available at the door on the night. Any donations can be handed into 9 Addison Drive. Your continued support is very much appreciated.
Forced eviction of Mainshill Solidarity Camp under way - Indymedia Scotland 26 January 2010
This morning at 08:30am around 25 private bailiffs, supported by 10 police, began their dawn assault to evict the Mainshill Solidarity Camp in South Lanarkshire. The bailiffs are acting on behalf of landowner Lord Home (1) who is set to profit from allowing Scottish Coal to extract 1.7 million tonnes of coal from Mainshill Wood near the village of Douglas. Despite the formidable police and bailiff operation, camp members are staying put down their tunnels and behind their barricades, fortified towers and tree houses. Numbers at the camp have swelled over the weekend with people arriving from across the country. The eviction could take weeks and cost the land owner millions (2) and it is hoped that the delay to the mine and the price of eviction will deter those who want to develop new coal projects in the UK.
The camp was occupied 7 months ago in solidarity with communities in the Douglas Valley who have been fighting the plans for ten years. As such it was well received with many supplies donated by the camp’s neighbours including a full Christmas dinner. The setting up of the camp has heralded a campaign of direct action against the mining of Mainshill, a necessary step after the 650 letters of objection to the mine were disregarded when South Lanarkshire Council which granted permission to the application.
By Mainshill Solidarity Camp, submitted by Jon B
25/01/2010
For full story and more click on external link below Arrests as open cast mine protesters face eviction - BBC 26 January 2010
At least 19 climate change protesters have been arrested after sheriff officers and police moved in to evict them from a wood in South Lanarkshire.
The Mainshill Wood Solidarity camp was set up to oppose plans for an open cast mine near the village of Douglas.
Campaigners, who have built barricades and tunnels, said sheriff officers and up to 30 police officers had arrived at the site on Monday morning.
They said they had expected to be moved but warned they would resist eviction.
Scottish Coal has been given permission to mine about 1.7 million tonnes of coal from the site located on Lord Home's Douglas estate.
BBC News (online)
For full story click on external link below Armed for battle of Mainshill mine - Scotland on Sunday 24 January 2010
Eco-warriors face Scottish Coals eviction squads with tree-houses, barricades and arm-locks
The tree-houses have been built, the tunnels dug, the barricades erected and the arm-locks secured to branches.
Mainshill Wood, in the Lanarkshire countryside, is expected to become Scotland's new environmental battleground this week when an army of bailiffs moves in to evict protesters against a huge opencast mine.
Scottish Coal was last year given permission to extract 1.7 million tonnes of coal from the site located on Lord Home's Douglas estate. If it goes ahead, South Lanarkshire will become one of the most intensively mined areas in Europe.
But first the company will have to remove around 50 protesters....
Click on external link below for more of the Scotland on Sunday article
Click HERE for more on the Mainshill protest camp
Douglas people want toilet relief - Gazette 23 January 2010
The people of Douglas have shown that they are desperate for public toilet facilities to be made available in the village.
Introducing new loos was a suggestion made by 89 per cent of locals answering a feasibility study by development agency EKOS into a proposed development on the former coal yard site in Ayr Road.
Shona Nimmo, chairperson of study commisioners Douglas Coal Yard Development Group, said: "We've not had public toilets in Douglas for several years, since the local authority closed the ones across from the coal yard site to implement budget savings.
"So when we're out and about we have to keep our legs crossed the whole time!
"It's incredible that we have areas where people can ramble and walk, yet there's nowhere for them to go when they need to answer the call of nature. People want to be able to go to the loo or have a cup of coffee."
The Douglas Coal Yard Development Group and EKOS propose to charge 50p for usage of the public toilets, to be collected through a coin-operated door system.
But even if the new toilet idea goes down the pan, several other suggestions put forward by 101 villagers who answered a questionnaire, available online and at St Bride's Centre, the Post Office and the Second Glance Charity Shop, could be implemented to help wipe away the images of dereliction at the coal yard.
By Craig Goldthorp
Carluke & Lanark Gazette
This weeks news 21 January 2010 Douglas Valley Church – On Sunday January 17 Mr Ross Blackman, a lay reader, led worship and the lesson was read by John Gold. As the minister Rev Robert Cleland is on holiday, anyone who needs the services of a minister is asked to contact Rev Ian Watson on 01555 892409. If you know of anyone who would appreciate flowers from the church, please speak to Mrs Shona Nimmo, flower convenor. Church secretary Mrs Irene Smith should have any notices for inclusion in next weeks service sheet by Friday at the latest.
Guild – The Guild met on Monday, January 11 at 2.30pm, when the guest speaker was Mrs Edith Easton. She told of her many harrowing and also pleasant experiences on a visit to India with her husband. The hostesses for the meeting were Ann Leitch and Jeanette Fleming. There will be a bake less sale at the next meeting on January 25.
Pre-eviction Gathering - MSC 20 January 2010
A weekend of action, workshops and defence-building in preparation
for the eviction of the Mainshill Solidarity Camp
For more information click on the link below Austaralia sends thanks for community Mainshill support 18 January 2010 "Thanks so much for looking ofter them. We are in Australia and our daughter is on site so we really appreciate that the community values them so much and is caring for them, especially in the weather that you are having. Happy New Year and good luck with the whole campaign. We are with you in spirit!"
Glenys and Gerry
January 8, 2010
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Final protesters evicted from the Mainshill Solidarity Camp
YOUR EVICTED … AND SO IS YOUR GAZETTE !
