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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Bexhill to Hastings road protester let back in tunnel | Bexhill to Hastings road protester let back in tunnel |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A protester who tunnelled under a road building site was allowed out overnight by security staff, only to return underground the following morning. | A protester who tunnelled under a road building site was allowed out overnight by security staff, only to return underground the following morning. |
| "Simon Sitting Bull" said security workers on the Bexhill to Hastings link road allowed him to leave the tunnel because of freezing weather. | "Simon Sitting Bull" said security workers on the Bexhill to Hastings link road allowed him to leave the tunnel because of freezing weather. |
| He said a "gentlemen's agreement" was honoured and he was allowed back in his tunnel to await bailiffs. | He said a "gentlemen's agreement" was honoured and he was allowed back in his tunnel to await bailiffs. |
| East Sussex County Council (ESCC) said staff made sure protesters were safe. | East Sussex County Council (ESCC) said staff made sure protesters were safe. |
| The protester was eventually evicted by bailiffs at about 11:00 GMT on Thursday. | The protester was eventually evicted by bailiffs at about 11:00 GMT on Thursday. |
| 'Care and friendliness' | 'Care and friendliness' |
| Sitting Bull, whose real name is Simon Medhurst, said: "I have learnt and will be able to pass on invaluable information to the protesters of the next road they build on how to stop it. | Sitting Bull, whose real name is Simon Medhurst, said: "I have learnt and will be able to pass on invaluable information to the protesters of the next road they build on how to stop it. |
| "I was just one man in one tunnel. Imagine 10 men in 10 tunnels - the process of extracting us would take that much more time. | "I was just one man in one tunnel. Imagine 10 men in 10 tunnels - the process of extracting us would take that much more time. |
| "If we had managed to delay them to the point where the bird-nesting season had started they would have had to have stop cutting down the trees." | "If we had managed to delay them to the point where the bird-nesting season had started they would have had to have stop cutting down the trees." |
| He said he was allowed to spend the night in a trench near the tunnel under a "gentlemen's agreement". | |
| "I can't praise them enough. It seems like an away day," he added. | "I can't praise them enough. It seems like an away day," he added. |
| "The tunnel rescuers made sure that everyone knew that if I came out I wouldn't be jumped and would be as warm as possible and keep the serious cold away. | "The tunnel rescuers made sure that everyone knew that if I came out I wouldn't be jumped and would be as warm as possible and keep the serious cold away. |
| "They are taking them out with the utmost care and friendliness." | "They are taking them out with the utmost care and friendliness." |
| Police and bailiffs began evicting protesters from the site, near Crowhurst, on Wednesday morning. | Police and bailiffs began evicting protesters from the site, near Crowhurst, on Wednesday morning. |
| 'Stay safe' | 'Stay safe' |
| Up to 30 activists had set up the site - dubbed "the second Battle of Hastings" - to halt the construction of the £93.8m link road. | Up to 30 activists had set up the site - dubbed "the second Battle of Hastings" - to halt the construction of the £93.8m link road. |
| On Thursday morning ESCC said Sitting Bull and a couple of protesters were still on the site overnight, where temperatures fell to -5C. | On Thursday morning ESCC said Sitting Bull and a couple of protesters were still on the site overnight, where temperatures fell to -5C. |
| ESCC spokesman Rupert Clubb said at the time: "We stayed there last night to make sure they were OK. | ESCC spokesman Rupert Clubb said at the time: "We stayed there last night to make sure they were OK. |
| "They can come down or come out of the tunnel at any time. | "They can come down or come out of the tunnel at any time. |
| "That is up to them but we are there to make sure they stay safe while they are in there." | "That is up to them but we are there to make sure they stay safe while they are in there." |
| Specialists were brought in to deal with any possible booby traps laid by the protesters. | Specialists were brought in to deal with any possible booby traps laid by the protesters. |
| Contractors started to clear the trees and undergrowth in December in preparation for construction work on the link road. | Contractors started to clear the trees and undergrowth in December in preparation for construction work on the link road. |
| Anti-road campaigners took their protest to the trees in Combe Haven Valley at the same time. | Anti-road campaigners took their protest to the trees in Combe Haven Valley at the same time. |
| The road will link the A259 and B2092, crossing Combe Haven Valley near a site of special scientific interest. | The road will link the A259 and B2092, crossing Combe Haven Valley near a site of special scientific interest. |