The gentrification of Leeds means that more and more urban woodlands and spaces are being sold off by the local council to build flats by corporate developers.
The gentrification of Leeds means that more and more urban woodlands and spaces are being sold off by the local council to build flats by corporate developers.
Along the Aire Valley in Leeds, this is becoming more and more apparent as a number of areas of woodland have been put up for auction.
Today fellers, contracted out by a Birmingham-based property developer, begun chopping down all the trees on 'Woodside' View; so local residents went out and stood in front of the trees to stop them being cut-down. This area of woodland has been there for over 30 years and has been bringing wildlife into the area and absorbing a large part of the pollution from the main road.
The fellers stopped work and left the land until the police and PCSO's came down, at which point a Section 6 (Squatters Law) notice had been placed on the site and the riot van parked up brought a lot of the bordering residents out to give support - some of which were given abuse by the police.
A 'passing' CID car also came and the police inside it pushed past a local resident involved in the action to gain entry to their house.
The site was eventually vacated by the protesters as the police prepared for arrest - obviously so whilst people were in the cells the fellers could finish their job.
The property agent who owns the land was made aware of the action by the police, who's attitude was aggressive and trying to intimidate throughout.
Meanwhile, whilst the fellers finished their work police stood by to make sure there was no more action against the 'development' of the woodland.
The partiality of the police goes to show that they are not in favour of what locals think and more interested in protecting vested interests. An important thing that has rose from the event is that no planning notices have been put up around the area, and the architects haven't even been down to survey the land yet - In otherwords they are ripping down the woodland before they even know if it's safe to build on.
Similar actions will be happening throughout the Aire Valley to stop the destruction of this unique area.
Along the Aire Valley in Leeds, this is becoming more and more apparent as a number of areas of woodland have been put up for auction.
Today fellers, contracted out by a Birmingham-based property developer, begun chopping down all the trees on 'Woodside' View; so local residents went out and stood in front of the trees to stop them being cut-down. This area of woodland has been there for over 30 years and has been bringing wildlife into the area and absorbing a large part of the pollution from the main road.
The fellers stopped work and left the land until the police and PCSO's came down, at which point a Section 6 (Squatters Law) notice had been placed on the site and the riot van parked up brought a lot of the bordering residents out to give support - some of which were given abuse by the police.
A 'passing' CID car also came and the police inside it pushed past a local resident involved in the action to gain entry to their house.
The site was eventually vacated by the protesters as the police prepared for arrest - obviously so whilst people were in the cells the fellers could finish their job.
The property agent who owns the land was made aware of the action by the police, who's attitude was aggressive and trying to intimidate throughout.
Meanwhile, whilst the fellers finished their work police stood by to make sure there was no more action against the 'development' of the woodland.
The partiality of the police goes to show that they are not in favour of what locals think and more interested in protecting vested interests. An important thing that has rose from the event is that no planning notices have been put up around the area, and the architects haven't even been down to survey the land yet - In otherwords they are ripping down the woodland before they even know if it's safe to build on.
Similar actions will be happening throughout the Aire Valley to stop the destruction of this unique area.
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