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Two pipe protesters left in trees | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fresh attempts are under way to evict the remaining gas pipeline protesters who have chained themselves to trees near Brecon, Powys. | |
The pipeline is running across south Wales and they want to stop it crossing a historic woodland. | |
On Tuesday bailiffs and police arrested six in a nine-hour operation. Another was brought down on Wednesday morning, leaving two still there. | |
National Grid won a court order allowing it to evict the protesters. | National Grid won a court order allowing it to evict the protesters. |
More than 30 people have been protesting against this section of the £840m pipeline, planned to stretch from Pembrokeshire to Gloucestershire, cutting through the Brecon Beacons National Park. | More than 30 people have been protesting against this section of the £840m pipeline, planned to stretch from Pembrokeshire to Gloucestershire, cutting through the Brecon Beacons National Park. |
People are beginning to ask, what is the cost of all this? Glyn Powell, farmer | People are beginning to ask, what is the cost of all this? Glyn Powell, farmer |
Five men and one woman were questioned on suspicion of obstructing a High Court enforcement officer after police moved in on Tuesday. | |
Two are expected to appear before Llandrindod Wells magistrates on Wednesday, and others have been cautioned. | |
One protester had chained himself to a bicycle and was hanging from a chain from the branches. Others had built platforms more than 20 feet (6m) into the trees. | |
Bailiffs had to stop work overnight because it was considered too difficult and dangerous to reach the remaining protesters in the dark. | |
A fence has been set up around the woodland during the evictions | A fence has been set up around the woodland during the evictions |
The woodland, at Penpont, between Brecon and Sennybridge, has been fenced off and police stayed at the site throughout the night. | |
More than 100 police, court officials and National Grid security guards have been involved. | More than 100 police, court officials and National Grid security guards have been involved. |
Farmer Glyn Powell told BBC Radio Wales he understood the need to protest at times, but said there was little sympathy for the protesters locally. | |
However, he described the operation to remove the protesters as "overkill". | However, he described the operation to remove the protesters as "overkill". |
"Generally people have not been particularly favourable towards the protesters although this saga seems to have given them a higher profile," he said. | "Generally people have not been particularly favourable towards the protesters although this saga seems to have given them a higher profile," he said. |
"People are beginning to ask, what is the cost of all this? If you had seen the undertaking yesterday, with the canteen and all the police vehicles and so on, who is paying? | "People are beginning to ask, what is the cost of all this? If you had seen the undertaking yesterday, with the canteen and all the police vehicles and so on, who is paying? |
"I trust it's not Dyfed-Powys Police who have to pay for this, out of their budget." | "I trust it's not Dyfed-Powys Police who have to pay for this, out of their budget." |
Campaigners say their protest aims to protect the historic woodland | Campaigners say their protest aims to protect the historic woodland |
This is the only section of the 190-mile pipeline that is now delayed and National Grid has heavy machinery on standby within metres of the site to begin laying the pipeline as soon as the last protesters are removed. | |
The pipeline will be laid under the woodland. | The pipeline will be laid under the woodland. |
National Grid spokesman David Mercer said two tunnel systems dug by the protestors were being checked, although one was known to be empty. | National Grid spokesman David Mercer said two tunnel systems dug by the protestors were being checked, although one was known to be empty. |
When complete, the pipeline will eventually supply up to 20% of the UK's gas needs. | When complete, the pipeline will eventually supply up to 20% of the UK's gas needs. |
The project has faced a number of setbacks, including several protests against the first phase of the pipeline at Trebanos in the Swansea Valley. | The project has faced a number of setbacks, including several protests against the first phase of the pipeline at Trebanos in the Swansea Valley. |
In May, five protesters who prevented work on the Trebanos site in January pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass. | In May, five protesters who prevented work on the Trebanos site in January pleaded guilty to aggravated trespass. |