Oxford Green arrested as City Council defy public demand
11 January 2008
Green Party Female Principal Speaker and former Oxfordshire County Councillor Dr. Caroline Lucas MEP today attacked Oxford City Council for their plans to chop down a host of trees to make way for a new shopping centre. In the process, protestor and Green Councillor Deborah Glass-Woodin was arrested on charges of aggravated trespass.
Oxford Green Party councillors have consistently opposed the building of the shopping centre. The decision is under judicial review, yet the LabourParty, united with the Liberal Democrat administration, is not waiting for the findings and have set about chopping down the trees in Norfolk Street and Bonn Square in preparation.
Dr. Lucas said: "The arrest of Green Councillor Deborah Glass-Woodin amounts to an outrageous infringement of her right to take part in peaceful direct action."
She continued: "Rather than upholding the spirit of the law and awaiting the formal decision on the future of the trees in question - due to be taken within the next few months - Oxford Council has shown contempt for the views of local residents and stormed ahead with the felling.
"It is pure irony that the trees in question were planted many years ago to mitigate the effects of local development, and are now being brought down to allow for further commercial development. The Council's disregard for the system of local democracy, as well the environmental concerns of the people of Oxford, is shocking."
Green Party Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Oxford East Peter Tatchell added:
"This is an outrageous act of environmental vandalism by the Liberal Democrat-controlled council. It makes a mockery of the Lib Dem's supposed commitment to green issues. In Oxford, they are reckless, irresponsible tree-destroyers.
"Part of the Westgate development is still under judicial review. There was no public consultation on the axing of these trees. In these circumstances, this destruction is premature, unnecessary and has no public mandate. Local councillors were not informed, which is contrary to the agreed policy that they should be advised before any trees are felled.
"Councillor Deborah Glass-Woodin's detention was an abuse of police powers. According to an eye-witness, the police arrested Deborah on a public pavement for trespass, roughly handcuffed her and dragged her physically to a waiting van. The aggressive behaviour of the police towards peaceful protesters is deplorable."
Councillor Matt Sellwood, Green Party member of Oxford Council's ruling Executive Board, commented
"Despite the fact that the entire development could still be halted by the verdict of a public inquiry, the Council has seen fit to start chopping down scores of trees. This is typical of an administration that cares more about shopping expansion and consumerism than the opinions of people living in the city centre."
ENDS
