Transition Heathrow is a grassroots action group working to build resilient Heathrow communities, capable of collectively coping with the injustices and threats of climate change and peak oil.
Here’s what our local MP has to say about the recent police intimidation tactics which have been stepped up in the last couple of weeks. If your after a clear explanation as to what political policing means then listen in as John explains it really well from about 3 minutes in.
Here is the interview with our very own Joe Rake speaking to the ITV journalists about the police raid of Grow Heathrow the day before the Royal Wedding. The footage was shown on ITV London Tonight and on the Channel 4 National News at 10.
Here is the video of John Mcdonnell MP speaking in court today about the squat raids that went on across London including the raid of Grow Heathrow. This is yet another example of political policing. Solidarity with those arrested.
More photos from todays raid can be found HERE. 5 squats in total across London have now been raided. And the police claim it is all nothing to do with the Royal Wedding even though the wedding date is tomorrow. It is such an abuse of their power. Lets hope the cost of the whole operation is not being added to the Royal Wedding budget which is all being paid for by the taxpayer.
Grow Heathrow was one of 3 squats across London to be raided so far this morning. 40 Police in full riot gear turned up at 7.15 am this morning to raid the site.
In the same week as the Royal Wedding, the community market garden was raided and occupants were dragged out of their beds and searched. An hour and a half later they all left with nothing – all that was found was vegetables, chickens, bees and an enthusiasm to create a sustainable community in a world threatened by climate change.
The police tactics were completely disproportionate. If all they wanted was a tour round – they could have just taken off their uniforms and we would of given them a full tour. They might have even got a cup of tea.
Unfortunately they did not come round for a friendly visit. The raid was one of many acts of intimidation happening right now across London. This is a crackdown on people who are bored of the state and the police controlling our lives. First signs look like this was quite possibly an illegal raid which is a fundamental breach of democracy and our human rights in the UK.
More photos to follow this blog soon. We will not be intimidated. Stay safe everyone.
I’ve just finished my first cup of tea of the day as a robin flew around the greenhouses greeting me. Our routine at the garden has started settling into place, albeit with many interesting turns of events along the way.
One such event occurred a few nights ago. A police helicopter was circling overhead and we presumed that it was simply passing. However, as the nuisance persisted, 3 police cars pulled up at the site explaining that the helicopter was initially passing over until it noticed ‘a commotion – possibly protesters or terrorists’. This ‘commotion’ was in fact some friends from the Kew Eco Village joining us for dinner! Several neighbours and friends including Tracy, Linda, Geraldine and John McDonnell, our local MP, turned up to see what was happening. In the end the police left with their tails between their legs and we even got an apologetic visit from them the next day.
Other aspects of the garden adventure have been more productive. Our kitchen at the back of the first greenhouse is rapidly becoming the social hub of the site, complete with a hammock for lounging. It’s looking very beautiful with our collective artwork sprucing it up. There’s still lots more to do all over the site, but hopefully this weekend, the 27th – 28th March, will be fruitful in terms of numbers of visitors. We hope to build a compost toilet, glaze and repair some of the panes of glass in the greenhouses, and pot lots of fruit and veg. The front area is now clear and raked, ready for us to sow a meadow on Sunday. In the summer it will hopefully be glorious and flourishing.
A couple of pigeons are perching on the top of the greenhouse as I write; it’s nice to share quiet times with birds and bees. We couldn’t have got this far without the help, support and donations of countless people. The further we progress, the further our aspirations for the site grow. Who knows, maybe one day soon we’ll even get rid of the mound of rubbish that we’ve cleared out!
“Grow Heathrow is a great example of how an interested party of dedicated individuals has really made a difference in a devastated community, in this instance from the decade by decade expansion of Heathrow airport. I sincerely wish the Grow Heathrow project well in their bid against eviction - as a shining light of what can be done with lots of vision and very little money.” by STEFAN GEYER, PERMACULTURE ASSOCIATION
