City Hall letters sent to ‘Peace Camp’

Published: 21 January, 2011
by JOSH LOEB

Haw pals claim eviction is for  Royal wedding

FRIENDS of Brian Haw, the activist who has been living in a “peace camp” in Parliament Square since 2001, say they have been ordered to dismantle their tents and placards or face eviction.

On Monday Westminster City Council served protesters with a letter warning them that if they did not leave the campsite by 5pm today (Friday) City Hall officials would go to the High Court to seek an injunction against them.

Under the 1980 Highways Act, those who do not comply could be fined thousands of pounds. Mr Haw is currently in hospital, where he is receiving treatment for cancer. 

His friends, who are manning his tent in his absence, claim the council has seized on his ill health as an opportunity to evict them.

Last year the Democracy Village – a campsite set up by campaign groups unaffiliated to Mr Haw – was established in the square. Supporters of Mr Haw have accused its residents of being “agent provocateurs”. 

In June Democracy Now protesters were evicted from the grass and moved to the surrounding pavement, where the council say they are obstructing the route for pedestrians.

Railings have been used to block access to the square ever since.

Barbara Tucker, of Brian Haw’s camp, warned that the council’s threats were “intended to cause very considerable distress to Mr Haw and indeed his health”. 

She added: “It is very unpleasant that Westminster City Council should use the six weeks while Brian is being treated for cancer as an opportunity to try and remove the campaign.”

Others have suggested that the council is keen to remove the protesters in time for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton in April.

Mark Williams, of the Peace Strike campaign, who said he had also been threatened with eviction, is due to attend the High Court today.

He said: “This is all about the Royal wedding. I don’t know why they can’t just be honest about it.”

Westminster Council leader Colin Barrow said: “We’ve been pressing the government for some years to end the blight of Parliament Square by enacting legislation which we, along with all the relevant authorities, can use to end the current mess.

“We want to make sure that we can address this problem once for all.

“Today’s action is the first step in a process that we hope will end the ludicrous and unacceptable situation around the square.”