Author: simon
Vestas Sit-in: Eviction Notice Served UPDATED (Photo and podcast)
Thursday, 6th August, 2009 at 12:33 pm, Isle of Wight
Green Issues, Law & Order, Newport, Vestas Sit-In, podcast
In the last ten minutes an Eviction Notice has been served on the remaining Vestas workers inside the building, with the eviction time given as 12pm on Friday 7th August.
The notice specifies that it will be enacted by a court bailiff, who we understand usually work with the police alongside to ensure no crime is committed.
Looking at the notice, it is addressed to Christopher Ash and all other occupiers – very strange as it’s well known that Chris left the building on Tuesday after the court hearing.
VB talk with Mark Smith, inside
We spoke to Mark Smith shortly after the notice had been posted. When we asked how it felt reading the notice, Mark said that “No different really. I don’t feel any different at all about it.”
“We’ll try and stop it happening. We want to rally as much support as we possibily can here, to stop it happening.”
He appealed for people to go along at 11am on Friday morning, “Come along tomorrow to show your support for us and try and stop this happening.
“Be here for 11am and try and stop the bailiffs, not physically stop them, but just show a presence and support that you don’t want this to happen.”
More Police outside
We understand from Jackie Hawkins, on the ground outside Vestas, that the number of police there have increased.
Mark said that there are also more senior police officers outside as well.
Earlier today the BBC reported that they had spoken to Newport court who told them that Vestas has applied for a warrant to have the bailiffs remove the remaining Vestas sit-in six.
Hear Mark’s own words …
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Full size eviction notice. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Related posts:
- Vestas Sit-In: Eviction Notice Granted by Court (updated)
Find out the latest from the Vestas Court case.... - Vestas “Magic Roundabout” Eviction Court Case 11am Tomorrow (Podcast)
They are planning an interesting defence.... - Vestas Protest: Noon Deadline For Eviction
The bailiffs have given the protesters until noon to dismantle... - Vestas Protest: Roundabout Eviction Due Friday
Eviction notice is served on the protestors occupying a roundabout... - Vestas Sit-in: East Cowes Vestas Roof Occupied: UPDATED (podcast)
Climate Camp activists and an RMT member have taken occupation...
Email This Story To A Friend
Vestas claim that closure is due to lack of demand in the UK, a weak currency and the recession. The Government state they will have 10,000 wind turbines installed in and around the UK by 2020, and yet refuse to show any support by nationalising the only turbine manufacturing site we have. We then find out that a wind farm is to be built in Scarborough – but the blades will be supplied from Germany. Then, not more than a couple of hours ago, my partner, who works for the Newport factory, is offered the chance to work and help build TWO wind farms – one in Swansea, and one in Margate. And they tell us there is no demand?
We are being lied to, yet again. It makes me sick.
(Report comment)
But Lisa, Vestas are in competition with other suppliers. There is a wind farm being built in Lanarkshire needing over 150 blades. I know Vestas bid for the contract but they simply didn’t win it. They have to be able to compete on price – not just say we should win it because we are based in the UK.
Which reminds me – what the Lib Dem MP was saying on Ventnor Blog the other day was rubbish – and he must have known it. The Government can’t give contracts to Vestas in the next four months even if they wanted to. All public sector contracts have to be advertised all across Europe – and you cannot give any form of preferential treatment to companies in your own country. It’s European law and WE HAVE TO FOLLOW IT…
I think it is heartless and hypocritical of the Liberal Democrats (who love Europe) to try to win votes by giving vulnerable people false hopes. And pretending that Vestas will change their minds if they are allowed to put a few blades up on the Isle of Wight is downright deceitful – he was clearly only saying it because it was what the crowd wanted to hear.
We all support the Vestas workers – but we also have to watch out for people who want to exploit what they are doing for their own purposes….
(Report comment)
Hi Jules,
I fully understand what you are saying and the protocols that must be followed, but I am convinced there is a demand out there, and that should we have our own manufacturing plant we stand as good a chance as any within Europe of securing deals.
As for the LibDems, don’t worry, not many were hoodwinked by his false prophecies, although sadly there will always be a few that will.
It’s not so wrong to fight for whats yours, and being choked by the government doesn’t help anyone’s morale or faith in Britain.
You are right with everything you say, all we ask is to be given a chance.
Will you be offering your support at the factory tomorrow? Hopefully see you there.
Thanks for your input :O)
(Report comment)
I wasn’t trying to be negative Lisa, and I agree with you there is a demand out there – and it would be great if Vestas could be saved. {Although perhaps it would be better if another turbine company came along, having seen how much Vestas really care about the Island and their workforce). They seem happy enough to take the Government’s money though.
It just made my blood boil when I saw the video of that idiot talking to the crowds the other day – he sounded very concerned and plausible until you thought about it a bit. I was going to post a comment then but it was probably better that I didn’t, it might not have got past moderation…
I hate politicians who turn up for the glory and the TV cameras, make false promises and prey on genuine people. Let’s see tomorrow if the County Press have seen through it. If not there could be all sorts of people thinking that the Government might be able to do something that they simply cannot do. Let’s be grown up and concentrate on getting them to do something that is possible – rather than pie-in-the-sky politician speak.
No doubt the local Liberal Democrats will be jumping on this bandwagon. I’ve nothing against the party in principle, but if they try to make cheap capital out of this then we will all know exactly how much they really care.
(Report comment)
And after that rant – i forgot to say I can’t be there in person tomorrow. I have to earn a few pennies. But I will be there in spirit (and of course via Ventnor Blog).
(Report comment)
Lol no worries, sorry if you thought I perceived you as being negative, I didn’t think that at all :O)
Its come to light that Vestas have been approached with regards to selling the factory and have flatly refused to do so, which possibly indicates they may well wish to re-open at some point should the market and indeed the recession pick up – the only problem now is, how many of those skilled workers would
a) be offered their positions back after the protest, and
b) be prepared to work for a company that treats their workforce so appallingly?
I have heard of a number of workers that have been relocated within Vestas that have simply handed those jobs back in disgust.
Trouble is, we can’t have it all ways I suppose.
Take care :O)
(Report comment)
You say that the eviction notice is addressed to Christopher Ash and all other occupiers and that Chris left the building on Tuesday, therefore is this eviction notice valid?
(Report comment)
Sadly Wendy I believe it will be upheld as valid. I was in the courtroom on Tuesday when they still tried to argue the point that because not all protestors were named on the document and that the papers hadn’t been served in the correct manner, that they should be served again. The judge declared that this would just allow things to go round and round in circles as the protestors would do whatever they could within their power to avoid the papers being served, and that they had sufficient notice of the possession order.
(Report comment)
And how about the Centrica announcement of a £1bn windfarm off Skegness?
No demand?
(Report comment)
Following the Government’s proposals, 10,000 wind turbines (should they be the successful vendor of course) would keep the factory in work for 25 years.
Northern Rock is in trouble again – will funding the Vestas factory desperately needs go toward bailing them out – yet again?
(Report comment)
I think it is heartless and hypocritical of the Liberal Democrats (who love Europe) to try to win votes by giving vulnerable people false hopes.
(Report comment)