Author: Sal
Vestas Protest: Marine Gate Blockade Moved by Police (photos) UPDATE 2
Tuesday, 22nd September, 2009 at 11:28 am, Isle of Wight
Green Issues, Newport, Vestas Sit-In
Early this morning, a large number of Police were in attendance at the riverside gate of the Vestas Blade plant in Newport.
The blockade of protesters, who have been camping on the tow path over the last few weeks, were dispersed by the Police and any unclaimed belongings bagged up and removed.
When we arrived at the site at about 8:30am, fencing was being erected by security staff along the path.
The operation started at about 6:30am when officers issued warnings, under section 69 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, to around 13 people “suspected of having committed, committing, or about to commit, criminal offences of aggravated trespass.”
One protester showed us a map she’d be handed showing an area at the back of the Vestas building. She told VB that she had been instructed not return to the marked area for three months.
Tents, sleeping bags and other items which were not claimed by those present were bagged up and taken to Newport Police Station as lost property.
The media restricted
The footpath is a busy route for cyclists as they travel to Newport.
This morning, cyclists were told to dismount and were then escorted between the newly-erected fences. They were then able to get back on the bikes and continue their journey.
When we approached the line of the police they offered to escort us across the area and back – but only once.
We were told by the PC and then by the Sergeant that if we wanted to cross the path again, we would risk being charged for aggravated trespass.
We pointed out that this restriction on reporting seemed unreasonable, but to no avail.
The Sergeant suggested taking it up with the Police media officer, which we have done.
UPDATE 2 (12:10): Sound like this has been sorted out now. We’ve just heard from the Police media officer that an area has been setup for the media, up on a raised area that we can shot from.
Blades shipping today?
It’s understood that the Bladerunner barge is due to arrive at the riverside at noon and with high tide at 2pm and that Vestas will attempt to ship the final blades and equipment from the factory this afternoon.
We’ll be back on site again later, keep an eye on our Twitter feed to stay up-to-date with developments.
To view full images, click on image and skip through images by clicking on arrows at the bottom.
Related posts:
- Vestas Protest: Update From Marine Gate (photo gallery)
A tripod has been erected at Vestas Marine Gate to... - Vestas Protest: Cranes Being Moved Whilst Still Occupied (photos)
We’ve just been informed from onlookers at the Southampton dockside... - Vestas Sit-in: Food Delivered With Police Assistance: Update (photos / video)
Police happy for food to go in to Vestas.... - Vestas Protest: Vestas Take Legal Action to Move Blockade
Vestas attempt legal action to remove the blockade from Marine... - Vestas Protest: Picnic in the Job Centre: Update 2 (video and photos)
An unlikely move, a Picnic turns up at Newport Job...
Email This Story To A Friend
Calais and Newport, what a pair – both had the police arrive early morning to put the full force of the state to its usual task. The little people (us) must never threaten the status quo, never challenge authority or the way things are. Maybe that’s why the world is in such a terrible state? Britain’s only wind turbine factory closes and swampy and his mates aren’t allowed to hang around complaining about it. Not for too long anyway..
Maybe the government are just embarassed, they put in millions of pounds of our money only to see it wasted as the corporate decides to move somewhere cheaper. Maybe they could have sorted UK planning policy instead eh? As always we’re let down by politicians who clearly care only about themselves and hiding their incompetence.
(Report comment)
I’m glad to see the police finally feeling able to take decisive action. The Police seem to be so careful of exciting public opinion against themselves or of treading on somebodies human rights that in many situations they are completely paralysed – perhaps that’s why anti-social behaviour has now reached the stage of driving people to suicide. Here we had a situation where a handful of climate change ‘activists’ were able to stop a group of workers going about their lawful business of helping to prevent climate change. How bizarre is that? Let’s hope they do us all a favour and crawl back under the stone they came from.
(Report comment)
Crawl back under which stone? Do you not think they came from their mothers womb the same as you did. Personally, I have seen better things than you crawl out of cheese, then crawl back!! What gives you the rights to think you are so much more superior than others, there is a great number of Islanders amongst the climate change protesters – So when you are out and about, you never know who you may be rubbing shoulders with therefore, perhaps you should be more careful with your choice of words!!.
(Report comment)
I feel real anger about this sometimes, and I think the source is the simple lack of reason!
That the factory closed is terrible. But it closed because they (Vestas) cannot sell wind turbines in the UK. If you want to know why, just look at the Cheverton Down debate!
So now they want to design and develop wind turbines on the Island – surely that is fantastic!
So why on earth are ‘green’ activists on the cycle path trying to stop this?
Please help me, but just what is point of the current protest by the cycle path?
How does trying to stop the design and development of green enery solutions help the battle to prevent climate change?
How does trying to stop the shipping and installation of green energy generation plant help reduce the rate of climate change?
I believe in the right to protest – indeed sometimes I feel the need to join protests as well. But protest must be credible, and have a coherent strategy to achieve it’s goal.
To suggest the best way to prevent climate change is by trying to prevent the introduction of wind generation is stupid. And, as Forest was fond of saying, ‘Stupid is as stupid does’.
Pete P
(Report comment)
Vestas profits have been made by the people who designed and built the turbine blades. Instead of spending so much money and energy on security and enforcement, they could have used it to make a just settlement with their workforce and find alternative employers to move into St Cross, Venture Keys, or Southampton.
In other words, they could have acted like they gave a damn, but they havn’t.
To add insult to injury, Vestas have sacked the 11 who led the campaign and robbed them of their rightful redundancy – a viscious thing to do to people facing unemployment (and now denied mortgage insurance because they’ve been sacked).
Talk about crawling out from under stones. It’s about time some people started standing up for decent treatment all round, rather than slavishly surrendering their children’s future on the altar of someone else’s greed.
(Report comment)
Hang on a second…nobody made them take the action they did, they choose to occupy the building. They wouldn’t have had to spend money on security and they would have got their redundency and been able to pay there mortgages if they had acted like the rest of the employees .
You don’t expect a company leaving for greener pastures to find a replacement company for its site…that is the job for estate agents or maybe the council. They are a company, not a charity, why should they care about their workforce?
Who is paying for the policing of these ‘events’..us of course
Rob and Lionheart need to calm down. If you can’t discuss things in a civilised way then maybe it would be better not to at all
(Report comment)
Thanks No.5. That’s clarified things.
“They are a company, not a charity, why should they care about their workforce?”
Why indeed. Take the money and run.
Are you happy that our community is basically subject to economic dictatorship from these people? Will you entrust your children’s future to people whose bottom line is personal profit, not human benefit? I think it stinks, and if the corporate executives won’t challenge it then the rest of us must find the courage and do it ourselves. You included.
(Report comment)
Our community is and always has been subject to this economic dictatorship (its called capitalism) and the people that extol the virtue of Capitalism were voted in by the majority of voting public on the Island…so yes we have to live with it
(Report comment)
No. 5 I agree that nobody asked these people to occupy the building and let’s not forget they were given several opportunities to come out without loss of redundancy pay. They could have made their point and still received redundancy. They knew full well the outcome of their continued actions.
Lets also be clear that Vestas are remaining at the St. Cross site – continuing with their research and development and test area. In addition a new department that is focused on prototyping new processes. This new department is made up of employees of the Blade manufacturing business who incidently are currently being intimidated by those who proport to want to ‘Save Vestas’ hmm..another irony.
Lets also not forget Vestas is a profit making company who must remain competitive to survive. If they behave like a charity they will be swallowed up by another ‘capitalist’ business and guess what ……. here we go again.
Whilst this situation is painful lets not forget what the Vestas workforce achieved was outstanding. They should be proud of what they did. Many ex employess came to Vestas unskilled and from low paid jobs. They have now worked for a global company, learned new skills and processes.
Lets hope the remaining Vestas employees can look forward to a future which will grow and have the capacity to create jobs once again for Island workers. But I fear this goal is being undermind by an anti-Vestas campaign which is being disguised as a ‘green jobs campaign’ after all Vestas do create green jobs around the globe.
(Report comment)
Norah, you mention “Several opportunities” – but never an opportunity provided by Vestas to negotiate, if only out of respect to the obvious public mood outside your gates.
But I guess that discussing things with the workforce was never the management’s strong point. I believe that the phrase “If you don’t like it you know where the door is” was the more common response to workers complaints about health and safety issues and gruelling shift patterns.
Glad to hear Vestas intentions for St Cross – is that definitive now? I know they argued for their new place (subsidised by tax-payers, at Stag Lane) on the basis that it was between their 2 existing facilities – both of which they then closed.
That’s real corporate-speak the way you talk about the “outstanding achievements” of vestas workers – not the acheivement of creating big profits for Vestas, but turning themselves from low-paid nobodys to people “who have now worked for a global company, learned new skills and processes”. Whoopee. And now they’re jobless along with their mates. That’s global companies for you.
They also were told they could “look forward to a future which will grow”. Let’s not leave our urgent need for planned energy production to the uncaring whims of “the market”. And let’s carry on demanding the re-instatement of those 11, who can be justly proud of the stand they took this summer, as can all other Vestas workers, and the people of Newport as a whole.
(Report comment)
Support The Vestas Workers!
Support the Vestas workers
Their cause is just and right
It’s more than just wind power
On the Isle of Wight
It’s not only job losses
Though that is so unfair
It’s all about the working class
And showing that we care
You fat cats who are in power
You’re really a disgrace
Just thinking about your pockets
And not the human race
The future of our planet
Means we must all be green
So closing a wind turbine factory
Is really quite obscene
To all of you – Island wide
We really must unite
The future of our planet
Is really worth the fight!!
(Report comment)
Nice sentiment….unfortunately a voting majority disagree with you…ask the people of Wellow
(Report comment)
Not corporate speak Theo but my own thoughts, we on the Island are capable of thinking for ourselves and making our own decisions as to whether we are being exploited or not.
Your Marxist tone of speech eg. “slavishly surrendering their children’s future on the alter of someone else’s greed” I find extraordinary ….this is 2009 not 1849 life has moved on.
Let’s keep this short the 11 took action and there was consequences. I believe they were 11 embittered individuals who have been taken advantage of and badly advised by activist from off the Island who neither care for them or their families.
It’s about time we moved on, we all have to earn a living and a lot of the time it’s not in the way of our choosing but that’s a fact of life so let’s get on with it.
(Report comment)
Sorry,perhaps that was a bit flowery, but it’s all my own thoughts too, i can assure you! I do think it’s a slavish habit in us that says “You can’t buck the system, just put up with it,” even when the consequences are hurting us.
We make more progress when we refuse to put up with things that aren’t good enough in our lives or in the world. Things about our lives we take for granted today – employment rights, health and safety at work, the right to vote, protection against race and sex discrimination, the Health Service – were all won by people uniting together to better their conditions. Isn’t that true?
(Report comment)
I don’t know lets ask the West Midlands Car Manufacturing Business…sorry Can’t, there isn’t one. Lets ask the Yorkshire Miners…sorry Can’t..there aren’t any.
You risk Vesta leaving this Island altogether…how will you consciouse cope with the weight of all those extra job losses on it..you risk further investment in the Island, does that make you fell ‘better’?
I love a good protest, but the balance is against you and will not swing the other way with continued protest. Time to call it a day and gang up on this council and see what they can be pushed into doing
(Report comment)
“Why should they care about their workforce?”
Do we really need to ask this question?
(Report comment)
I would love them to re-instate the 11 and give them their redundency…but attempting to hold them to ransom is absolutely never going to work.
Pressure from our council around a table is the only hope they have.
(Report comment)
Glad we agree on that. Let’s hope the council do the business – undoubtedly that’s what this community would want them to do.
As for the psychology of Vestas – it’s a mystery to me. Maybe the pressure will help, maybe it won’t. It’s a matter of opinion, and we’ll only know when we look back on all this later.
(Report comment)
[...] has been cleared – the roundabout camp is still up and functioning – come for supper!] VentnorBlog here Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)VESTAS WORKERS BESIEGED BY RIOT POLICE (Updated [...]
(Report comment)
time to move on people. we are now bored of the vestas protests. im sure the families of the workers would feel better if these guys started looking for other work instead of wasting their own (and everybody elses time)
(Report comment)
I’m sorry terry but who are you to speak on behalf of the Island as a whole? I am not ‘bored’ of this Vesta’s Protest
I happen to think if it was not for this ‘boring’ protest then Vestas would of moved away months ago (after taking taxpayers money) without a word said.
We would of just taken it because that’s what this island does.
Vestas were still clearly making a lot of money over here, all boils down to greed and wanting more money at the end of the day.
Isn’t it funny how they wont give up any of the sites that have access for barges and boats? The chances of another blade company moving over is very slim and vestas know that. We just got to sit here and wait untill they are ready to come back.
Its not just about the 500 job losses on the island, this is the type of work we need on the Island for our children and our childrens children in years to come.
But never mind though terry, plenty of dead end jobs over here for us like hotel work, caring and fastfood outlets.
(Report comment)
Hmmm .. interesting point. I’d never seen Vestas not giving up their sites as an effective way for them to block potential competing blade making companies bringing their business to the Isle of Wight and with that more jobs for Islanders.
(Report comment)
none of this is ‘funny’…nieve maybe. Vesta are a company, why should they care about other companies..they exist to make profit..it is their sole purpose..not cater for their employees, not maintain work sites, not listen to protestors..simply make money.
They have now decided they can best do this elsewhere..and I’m beginning to see why.
Quote “Its not just about the 500 job losses on the island, this is the type of work we need on the Island for our children and our childrens children in years to come.
But it is over they have gone and no amount of protesting/ lamenting the possibilities is going to change that…especially not now that this debarcle has occured.
We take it not because it is what ‘this Island does’ it’s what everybody has to do when Commercialism/Capitalism is in control.
Terry may not speak for the ‘whole’ of the Island, but mark my words, he will be soon and the sympathy vote this over-elongated protest relies on will wither away like British Leyland.
If you want to change this system…vote
(Report comment)
“If you want to change this system…vote”
one little X on a bit of paper every 5 years or so – do you really think that’s what democracy is about?
(Report comment)
who said anything about democracy. Voters think they have a voice, protestors think they have a voice…neither have and both will just be yesterdays news
(Report comment)
No.5 has hit the nail on the head. you will see the support ebb away very shortly. The point has been made and nothing will change. I respect the right to protest but enough is enough, particularly as the iow has put up so much opposition to having wind power on its own doorstep. Market forces have decided that a foreign company has had to change it’s strategy, that’s all – they do not owe the iow a legacy of employment. We all in the modern economic world live with the threat or our jobs being lost at fairly short notice. I for one, will not be pitching up a tent at work if it happens.
(Report comment)
“particularly as the iow has put up so much opposition to having wind power on its own doorstep” Those small number of people who objected to the wind farms do not represent the views of everyone on the Island. Far from it.
(Report comment)
Why should Vestas give up any of the sites they own? Would you give up your house because your neighbour wanted to build on it? Lets also be very clear on what Vestas own…. just the Newport site which as stated will continue to create green jobs, all the other sites are leased and Vestas wont be staying in them for much longer.
if you want wind turbine manufacturers in the uk go and lobby to goverment to put pressure on the spineless councils that constantly reject wind farms.
Ps if the idiots by the marine gate had’nt caused so much damage and tresspass maybe the Police would not have chucked you out at 6am, dont expect any protest to be successful if you act like criminals.
(Report comment)
Tom – It’s probably useful if we stick with the known facts. As far as reports and police updates, there’s hasn’t been “so much damage,” as you put it.
As far I understand it, one person undid some bolts on a cctv camera. Beyond that I’m not aware of any more.
Do you know otherwise?
(Report comment)
Quite agree Simon, there has been far to many speculative comments written about the protesters by not only the people on here, but also by an Isle Of Wight County Press Journalist to whom I sent a reply, which I will hereby share with others.
Dear Martin
After reading your article with great interest, found it to contain some very misleading quotes from your anonymous Vestas employee, but one in particular stands out from the rest:
“I find myself in fear of wearing any Vestas logo clothing outside or telling people where I work.
Apart from all the supporters, Islanders and those from the mainland who wear green ribbons and badges stating ‘Support The Vestas Workers’ I for one, have also been driving around the Island with two A4 Sized poems ‘Support The Vestas Workers’ attached to my rear side windows and have never been intimidated nor threatened.
In fact quite the opposite! I have people driving past giving me the ‘Thumbs Up’ and others when parked rapping on my window to tell me how true the words are. I have never heard of anyone else walking in fear of their life, so can only assume your source of information either comes from one of the security guards posing as an employee, or you are being fed a complete fabrication by someone hoping that your report will scupper the protest of unfair sackings by Vestas.
There are now White ‘T-Shirts’ with the poem ‘Support The Vestas Workers’ printed on the back, and a logo on the front showing the Green Island with soldiers pushing up a Wind Turbine with ‘Support The Vestas Workers’ over the top, and underneath: savevestascampaign@yahoo.co.uk and under this is printed: Help Support Your Island.
Therefore! Are you leading us to believe that in accordance with what your anonymous employee has told you, all the people who now wear these ‘T-Shirts’ are going to be subjected to a life of fear – I think not!!
If we still live in a democracy, and not how it appears, heading towards a dictatorship, then everyone has a right to stand up for what they believe in and the most important issue on the Island at the moment is the lack of Green Jobs. But! Before that happens, there is the matter of continued broken promises by the Boss’s of Vestas about reinstating the workers they sacked, and giving them their suspended full pay, and redundancy money.
I feel most strongly that everyone including journalists such as yourself who just chase headlines, are losing sight of the real issues these sacked workers face, and above all else they deserve all the support they can muster to fight for the economy of the Isle Of Wight. Not forgetting, the rights for every working person in this country and worldwide to have the free-dome in their respective places of work, to be heard!!
Furthermore! I believe that under the criminal justice law ‘Everyone is innocent until Prov-en guilty’ on this basis alone, should you not have listened to both sides before submitting for publishing your article ‘Protest Threat To Jobs’.
I thank you in anticipation of the interest given to my reply, and eagerly await any comments you may have.
Best regards
Please Note: I am still waiting for a reply!!
(Report comment)
”Why should Vestas give up any of the sites they own? Would you give up your house because your neighbour wanted to build on it?”
Well not quite the same is it Tom?
If I no longer wanted to live next to my neighbour, I would SELL my home and then move to the new place I wanted to be.
(Report comment)
I am sticking to facts, its you who isn’t “As far I understand it, one person undid some bolts on a cctv camera. Beyond that I’m not aware of any more.” He did not undo bolts on a CCTV camera, he removed bolts from a 30FT marst which has a CCTV camera mounted on top, which if it had fallen on someone would have killed them.
Safety railings have also been unbolted by the marine transfer facility and I heard reports of quick drying cement being used to render (excuse the pun) the marine gate useless.
(Report comment)
Sorry Tom, but to be more correct if you state “As far as I understand” and “I heard reports” then you are not stating facts! What you are quoting is information gleaned from third parties and therefore, cannot be used as factual information! I would suggest that you heed the sentiments of Simon and stick with known facts if you want to apportion blame on any particular person or persons!!
(Report comment)
Tom is correct the safety railings and platforms along the jetty were un bolted during the night time, a large amount of cement with sharp metal brackets sticking out was put under a tent along the area where the crane runs to stop it from doing so and the CCTV mast was also unbolted (male arrested and charged with damage which he pleaded guilty to. Ask any of the main activists that were at the main roundabout or Marine gate that the incidents DID occur. in fact Theo was present when the cement was removed…….
(Report comment)
Tom is correct, those are the facts.
Maybe now there is nothing left in the production areas, those at the roudabout can also leave and let Vestas get on with testing and building prototype blades.
(Report comment)
I am a student at The Isle Of Wight College and am douing a national diploma in media studies, we are doing a project on the recent closure of vestas and wish to interview any pro windturbine groups on the island who would be willing to speak infront of a camera for our project it would be a great help
(Report comment)
This link might be a good starting point, go to the contacts section and take it from there, good luck with your studies and hope you get your diploma.
(Report comment)
Also contact the green lobby group mentioned in other recent VB pieces:
http://ventnorblog.com/2009/09/21/green-lobby-group-day-in-newport/
http://ventnorblog.com/2009/09/26/less-gripe-more-wind/
(Report comment)