Last weekend saw activists from across the UK converge at the Mainshill Solidarity Camp for a long weekend gathering.
The heavily fortified camp has occupied the woods since June in solidarity with locals resisting an open cast coal mine being pushed through by Scottish Coal and Lord Home. Despite the freezing temperatures numbers swelled and work has continued on the defences. Locals have continued to support the camp bringing food, water and other vital supplies to the camp daily.
Bailiffs from the National Eviction Team visited the site two week's ago looking at defences, and it looks likely an eviction is imminent [1|2]. Despite this, action is continuing to resist the mine.
On Sunday morning Lord Home's house was visited and on Monday and Tuesday the tree felling harvesters were stopped from working by people on the site.
[ Mainshill Solidarity Camp website | Douglasdale Coal Health Study ]
Re: Action at Mainshill Solidarity Camp Intensifies
Activists stopped the three tree harvesters from working by climbing onto the machines on Monday afternoon, and again on Tuesday morning. Each time for more than half an hour. The workers were friendly, and happy to have some extra breaks, but their boss was certainly not happy!
There are three tree harvesters working now, instead of just the one a month ago. Hiring two extra machines to get the work done may be an indication that the protests have put them behind schedule.