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Court bid to end pipeline vigil Court rules to end pipeline vigil
(about 6 hours later)
An attempt to end a four-month protest against a gas pipeline across Wales is going to the High Court in Cardiff. National Grid has won the right to immediately evict protesters who have occupied land where part of an extensive gas pipeline is being laid.
Protesters have been living in trees near Brecon since January to try to stop a section of the 190-mile (320km) pipe being built through woodland. Protesters have been living in trees near Brecon since January to try to stop a section of the 190 mile (320km) pipe being built through woodland.
National Grid, which is bringing the action, hopes to move the group so the next phase of the £840m project can continue. A High Court judge in Cardiff has now granted National Grid immediate possesion of the occupied land.
Protesters have vowed to fight on and say they will get their own injunction. An injunction also forbids trespass and damage to machinery.
When complete, the pipeline will run from Milford Haven to Gloucestershire and eventually supply up to 20% of the UK's gas needs. The protesters had told Judge Graham Jones their action was a non-violent peaceful expression of their rights, but they could now face arrest if the vigil continues.
The project has faced a number of setbacks, including several protests against the first phase of the pipeline at Trebanos in the Swansea Valley. Judge Jones also rejected claims the protesters had not had time to get proper legal representation.
I feel it's (the pipeline's) going to make a permanent scar over this area Sam, protesterI feel it's (the pipeline's) going to make a permanent scar over this area Sam, protester
Last month, five protesters who prevented work on the site in January for about five hours pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass. When complete, the pipeline will run from Milford Haven to Gloucestershire and eventually supply up to 20% of the UK's gas needs.
At the High Court on Thursday, National Grid hopes to get protesters moved on from the tree-camp near Sennybridge. The £840m project has faced a number of setbacks, including several protests against the first phase of the pipeline at Trebanos in the Swansea Valley.
But one protester, Sam, said they would not give up the fight to stop construction through the woodland, and they were hoping to get an injunction. Last month, five protesters who prevented work on the Trebanos site in January for about five hours pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass.
Speaking before Thursday's hearing, one of the Brecon protesters, Sam, said if they lost the case, they were going to remain at the site.
"I feel it's (the pipeline's) going to make a permanent scar over this area," he said."I feel it's (the pipeline's) going to make a permanent scar over this area," he said.
"You just drive down the road you look at what the pipe's already done. Look at the construction there, it's like a massive trail of destruction." Protesters climbed inside the pipe at Trebanos Protesters climbed inside the pipe at Trebanos
"If we lose the court case, we're going to remain here, we're going to fight." Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has in the past expressed concerns about the effect on the environment, and said it did not believe it was the right route for the pipeline. "You just drive down the road you look at what the pipe's already done. Look at the construction there, it's like a massive trail of destruction."
But after months of consultation, National Grid said it had found the "most suitable route" and the land would be re-instated afterwards. In the past, Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has expressed concern about the effect on the environment, and said it did not believe it was the right route for the pipeline.
But after months of consultation, National Grid said it had found the most suitable route and the land would be reinstated afterwards.
Announcing consent for phase two of the project in February, energy minister Lord Truscott said the potential impact of the pipeline on the beacons had been "uppermost" in his mind.Announcing consent for phase two of the project in February, energy minister Lord Truscott said the potential impact of the pipeline on the beacons had been "uppermost" in his mind.
But he said "stringent conditions" on National Grid would enable them to deliver the project "on time but with the least possible environmental impact". But he said "stringent conditions" on National Grid would enable it to deliver the project "on time but with the least possible environmental impact".