Drama in Sheffield High Court as Labour Council Attempts to Send Tree Protestors to Prison
Local / Sheffield Jun 05, 2018 - 01:02 PM GMTBy: N_Walayat
Four Sheffield citizens are in court this week for potential committal to prison for the part they played in Sheffield's anti street trees felling protests that have seen more than 20 arrests this year alone which culminated in an halt to tree fellings announced late March in the run up to the May 3rd local elections that saw Labour lose 5 council seats as a consequence of the Labour council and it's contractor May's tree fellings programme. The halt in street tree fellings continues as the protest drama now plays out in the high court in Sheffield this week.
Left to right Paul Brooke, Benoit Benz Compin, Fran Grace and Simon Crump (photo credit)
Ahead of the start of the trial Simon Crump posted on the STAG Facebook page:
Myself are in Sheffield High Court this week, facing a three day trial which could result in our committal to prison.
We were first contacted on 22 February 2018 by SCC's lawyers to tell us that we faced High Court, and they have kept has hanging on allthis time. This has been a highly stressful experience.
On the one hand, I’m surprised and disappointed that SCC are choosing to continue with their High Court case against myself and others, particularly in the light of recent statements from Lewis Dagnall which seem to be advocating negotiation and compromise.
On the other, I welcome the opportunity to put my side of the argument on the public record and to challenge a High Court injunction against us which I strongly believe was granted under dubious circumstances given the recent revelations which clearly indicate that at best, SCC officials misinformed Justice Males as to the contents of the PFI Contract whilst under oath, and at worst, lied to the judge about the contents of the contract. It's going to be an interesting week.
The first day of the trial saw drama in the high court as the judge orders Sheffield city council's barrister to answer yes or no to whether the application to send Sheffield citizens to prison for contempt for protesting tree fellings is supported by the council leader Julie Dore. The answer to which was yes, the court action was under the orders of the Council leader Julie Dore who "positively agread" with the legal action against the 4 anti tree felling protestors :
If found guilty then the four protestors could be jailed, though more likely face a large legal bill that could easily exceed £30,000.
The following video illustrates exactly what it means when the Council's contractor Amey comes to a street and fells ALL of its tree's, turning a formerly majestic tree lined desirable suburban street into just another run down likely to vote Labour council estate.
Which brings us to the recent local elections when the people of Sheffield had the chance to voice their opinion on the tree felling rampage and duly ejected 5 Labour councils from the council chamber, whilst not enough to bring Labour rule to an end, nevertheless the pain of which has meant that the halt to tree fellings has continued since.
The protest movement has grown to to in excess of 10,000 people, many of whom attended a protest rally outside Sheffield City Hall on the 7th of April 2018 where Pulp front man Jarvis Cocker addressed a estimated crowd of 3000 at the "Get Off My Tree!" protest.
The "Get Off My Tree!" Sheffield anti-trees felling protest of 7th April 2018 started as a march from Sheffield city hall and around the city centre.
And here is an earlier election broadcast for Sheffield's tree party (all those who oppose the Labour councils tree fellings).
Whilst here is a taste from just ONE of the many streets effected (Abbeydale Park Rise) of why thousands of Sheffielders are protesting against the felling of healthy street trees.
More videos that illustrate what has taken place on Abbeydale Park Rise in the name of the Labour council's PFI contract.
Here so called Arb's butchered several of Abbeydale Park Rise's Christmas light Cherry tree's, as a bitter Christmas present for the streets residents.
Meanwhile South Yorkshire Police were deployed to snatch protestors off the same street.
The bottom line is this weeks high court drama is just the latest event in a series spanning several years that is making a laughing stock of formerly Europe's greenest city as the Labour Council deems it fit and proper to work towards a target for felling HALF of Sheffield's street trees, this at a time when the planet faces climate change catastrophe!
And so as history repeatedly shows that those in power for too long tend to lose touch with reality and adopt insane policies and measures such as the target to fell half of Sheffield's street trees coupled with the deployment of much needed police elsewhere in huge numbers under "Operation Testate" in support of a private hiviz militia all to fell street trees! Where Sheffield stands today truly is INSANE, where a peaceful protestor can get arrested just for blowing a toy trumpet!
By N Walayat
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