A CAMPAIGN TO STOP MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL
DESTROYING A COMMUNITY WOODLAND TO BUILD 72 'EXECUTIVE-STYLE' HOUSES
GREEN HYPOCRISY EXPOSED ON TV (BBC Politics Show - March 2009) GREEN HYPOCRISY EXPOSED IN PARLIAMENT (Longridge to the Lords - July 2009)
Background
Since 2005, The Friends of Longridge Wood have been campaigning to stop 'Robocop Mayor' Ray Mallon and M'bro Council from tearing down a 7-acre community woodland in Marton. The council wants to sell off the site to a developer and have 80 'executive-style' houses built on it.
The Friends oppose the plan because thesite is a rare natural space, important toboth wildlife and local people.Middlesbrough has only 1% tree cover already whichis 10 times below the national average! In recent years,1000s of new houses have been built in the area and 1000s more are planned not to mention the roads around Martonalready being notoriously congested. The Friends also believe it is unethical and hypocritical for a 'green beacon authority' having let a conservation charity plant the wood in the 90s to now tear it down.
Despite the council ignoring the campaigners pleas for 6 years and bulldozing half the site in a dawn raid in 2008(costing £25k), The Friends' commitment has never waivered. For a group of ordinary people to do their bit for the environment and actually fight back against a belligerent and destructive authority should be an inspiration for communties everywhere.
I got involved in 2006 to help get the story out through film and the net. The campaign may be about saving a small wood but its also a BIG fight for local democracy.
Please sign
THE NEW PETITION
on M'bro Council's website.
Do your bit for the environment
AND local democracy please!
CAMPAIGN NEWS !
Sept 2011: COUNCIL CLAIM TO HAVE FOUND BUYER FOR SITE
After 6 years of massive objection, a trouncing on the BBC Politics Show and a shaming on screen in Parliament, Mayor Mallon and M'bro Council remain belligerently intent on tearing down Longridge Wood. They claim that they have found a buyer for the site and are looking forward to seeing 90 houses built upon it. Cllr. David Budd told the Gazette he was "delighted" and re-iterated the claim that "the site had long been earmarked for housing".
DISINGENUOUS AND/OR UNETHICAL ?
In trotting out this argument yet again, Budd actually re-affirms the fact that The Council has NO ETHICAL (let alone environmental) justification for their plan.
And that's because, 15 years ago, M'bro Council allowed a conservation charity to plant the Longridge site with 600 trees knowing that the site was earmarked for housing (they claim since 1979). So why didn't the council tell the conservation charity about their long established plan? It would have been unethical not to right?
Regardless of that, wouldn't it also be unethical to now tear down this charitable gift to the town? And also why wasn't the site built on in the eighties, nineties or early noughties? And the reason for that is that a major powerline crossed the site and a great pylon stood on it; and had done since the 1970s!
It was only after 2003 when the National Grid re-routed the line and removed the pylon that building housing was suddenly on the agenda - and by then, of course the trees had been planted for several years!!!
So it seems that The Council were either disingenuous in dealing with the conservation charity OR, in having no idea that the powerline would be re-routed, they actually had NO plans to build on the site at all !!!
Either way, Mallon, Budd and the Council's weak argument falls down yet again. The campaigners meanwhile remain equally intent on stopping the development and should they ultimately fail, the Council's final despotic and destructive act WILL BE POSTED AS PROMISED ON YOUTUBE FOREVER!
WATCH MY FILM (WHICH MALLON FAILED TO STOP BEING SHOWN IN PARLIAMENT!)BULLDOZING DEMOCRACY
(Below) THE CHOPPED LETTER
PRINTED BY GAZETTE 8.2.2011
FEB 2011: CHOPS, CHANGES & NO ANSWERS
FROM EVENING GAZETTE On Feb 1st, I sent a letter to the Gazette that questioned the standards of their journalism in two recent Longridge articles (below). My letter was printed but it was chopped, had wording CHANGED and was not responded to (see left). I've sent The Editor another letter...
Dear Editor,
The new letters page logo invites readers to SOUND OFF! So I sounded off in a frank but fair letter (‘Battle Goes On’ – Feb 8th) questioning the standard of Gazette journalism in two recent articles on Longridge Wood.
The first article, ‘Renewed Fight For Longridge’ (Jan 12th), reported that campaigners were fearing that Middlesbrough Council were about to resume felling. My letter pointed out that the article failed to establish the critical issue: Were Middlesbrough Council about to resume felling or not? When my letter appeared, this was cut completely.
I also questioned the second article, ‘Longridge Trees Saved - For Now’ (Jan 28th), which stated that Ray Mallon had decided not to fell the trees until a developer was found. As Ray Mallon had made the exact same statement two years ago it revealed that he had been considering resuming the felling without a developer and was thus considering breaking his word. My letter asked why the Gazette didn’t pick up on this but when it was printed the crucial line “He was after all, considering breaking his word” was cut. More incredibly the wording of my key question “Why didn’t the Gazette pick up on this?” had actually been changed to “Why didn’t anyone pick up on this?” But I never asked ‘anyone’, I asked the Evening Gazette.
Can The Editor, without chopping this letter, answer my initial questions and explain why felt it necessary to deflect, chop and change them; and then not answer them?
Craig Hornby. Director, Bulldozing Democracy film.
MY 1st LETTER IN FULL - SENT TO GAZETTE 1.2.2011 ORWELLIAN NEWSPEAK/DOUBLETHINK?
The Gazette report on Jan 12th (‘Renewed Fight For Longridge’) stated that campaigners feared the remaining half of Longridge was soon to be felled as Middlesbrough Council’s felling licence for the site was soon to expire. But the article didn’t actually state whether the Council were about to resume felling or not. This I thought was odd as it was the crucial point.
The follow up article on Jan 28th however (‘Longridge trees saved-for now’) did confirm that felling was on the cards by revealing Mayor Mallon had a change of mind. He stated “having listened to many people I have concluded it would be wrong to fell the trees when there is no prospect in the near future of the site being developed”. This also struck me as odd because it is exactly what he said after the seething public outcry which followed the initial bulldozing raid two years ago. Why didn't the Gazette pick up on this and ask Ray Mallon about it? He was after all, considering breaking his word by sending the bulldozers back in without having a developer lined up. Thankfully Ray kept his word, no doubt influenced by the campaigners and another sure PR disaster that would result. Due to the bird nesting season beginning in March, when all felling becomes outlawed for 6 months, the wood will see another Spring and Summer at least. The battle continues 100%.
MALLON & MBC EXPOSED ON BBC (The Politics Show BBC1, March 2009)
2005 - 2011: For 6 years, residents of Marton M'bro have campaigned to Save Longridge Wood a community woodland planted in the 90s by a woodland charity. In 2005, 'Robocop Mayor' Ray Mallon & M'bro Council announced that they wanted to tear down the wood and sell off the land to get 80 'executive-style' houses built.
In Dec 2008, in the face of huge public opposition, Mallon launched a dawn raid and bulldozed half the wood costing £25k. The furore that followed forced the council to back off stating that they would not complete the felling until a new developer was found. But now in Jan 2011, with their felling licence for the site set to expire this July and all felling illegal from February due to the start of the nesting season, the campaigners believe the council is planning another raid this month.
But the council still have NO buyer for the site and chopping down the wood will cost another £25k...
and in a time of savage chops to council funding?!!!
JAN 2011: The public outcry at the council for felling half the trees in Dec 2008 prompted the council to announce that it would not complete the felling until a buyer was found for the site. But now, in Jan 2011, campaigners believe the council, with their felling licence for the site set to expire this July and all felling not permitted from February due to the start of the nesting season, could be planning another raid this month. They still have NO developer and chopping down the wood will cost another £25k...and in a time of savage chops to council funding oh dear....
Sept 2010: THE BATTLE CONTINUES
all the way to NUMBER 10 ! Well done The Hobsons - Petition and Pancrack DVDs delivered !
Let's hope we see Mr. Cameron & Co. respond
to the Marton branch
of
THE BIG SOCIETY...
Aug 2010: NEW DVD ON ITS WAY
TO DOWNING STREET !
JUNE 25th/26th 2010: COUNCILS FAIL AGAIN TO
STOP
PANCRACK FILMSHOW Redcar & Cleveland Council and M'bro Council have again tried to thwart screenings of COATHAM-A COMMON CONCERN and LONGRIDGE-BULLDOZING DEMOCRACY.
Like last year when the films were screened in Parliament, they again complained to the venue and again to no avail.
Absolute respect to ARC for standing up for free expression by fully backing the show and inviting both councils to come and take part in the Q & A. The councils didn't show but have again vindicated the very point of both films: D-E-M-O-C-R-A-C-Y !
SCREENING EVENT: PANCRACK FILMS SHOWN IN PARLIAMENT DOUBLE BILL AT ARC . 'COATHAM - A COMMON CONCERN' 'LONGRIDGE- BULLDOZING DEMOCRACY' at ARC CINEMA, STOCKTON Friday 25th June 2010 7.30pm
includes speakers from
Coatham & Longridge Wood Campaigns also showing - Sat 26th June: 2pm & 7.30pm TICKETS: £5.50 / £4.50 conc.
A Cordial Invitation to REDCAR & CLEVELAND COUNCIL & MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL
to the screening of 'Coatham-A Common Concern' and 'Longridge Wood-Bulldozing Democracy'
plus discussion with campaigners at STOCKTON ARC, Friday June 25th 7.30pm
TICKETS: £5.50
3 MAR 2010:
A SUPREME VICTORY
FOR COATHAM !
SUPREME COURT LANDMARK RULING
5-0 IN FAVOUR OF
THE FRIENDS OF COATHAM COMMON ! After 6 years of struggle against a hellbent council, the people and common sense have won at last - Coatham common is a protected village green!
Redcar & Cleveland Council have spent an outrageous £3-4m trying to impose their 'botched' housing development all over the sea front but now it is dead and the fences are coming down!
It's an inspiration for Longridge and green campaigns everywhere - don't give up!
For Coatham webpage and film 'Coatham-A Common Concern'
click here
JULY 2009: A GREAT VICTORY AS COUNCIL BACKS OFF CENTRAL GDNS!
The ludicrous plan of M'bro Council to concrete over Central Gdns and the lake in the centre of M'bro with a multi-storey car park, hotel and office blocks is NOT going ahead.
The council told the Gazette they made their decision because of the present economic climate and the great number of public objections. The lake they said will remain but building on the surrounding green space may happen in the future. The controversial plans were brought to the attention of many by local residents. Their spirited campaign resulted in the film Beacon of Hypocrisy, the staging of a demonstration and a feature on The BBC Politics Show. This is a fantastic result for those who have worked hard to save the site. The council have acted wisely and should now be consistent given the greater number of objectors to the plans for Longridge!
JULY 20th 2009 :LONGRIDGE TO THE LORDS!
On Mon 20th July, 'BULLDOZING DEMOCRACY' was screened in THE HOUSE OF LORDS. Afterwards, the Longridge Campaigners discussed the green hypocrisy of Middlesbrough Council with Lord Michael Bates of Langbaurgh, Greg Clark MP & Shadow Minister For Teesside, Paul Bristow Conservative candidate for Ashok Kumar's seat plus Kay Brennan from The Woodland Trust.
Lord Bates added his support to the campaign commending "the power and wit of the film". He also humorously remarked "I'm glad I'm not on the recieving end of that !" ASHOK KUMAR Labour MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland (ironically the constituency of both the Longridge campaigners in Marton and myself in Saltburn!) chose not to attend BUT was in the building as he walked past our delegation in the Parliament lobby and looked a little surprised to see us!
Special thanks to Lord Bates and PA Alison for hosting the screening and thanks to all who attended. THE FIGHT FOR LONGRIDGE IS FAR FROM OVER !
JUNE 09: BULLDOZING DEMOCRACY IN WHITBY !
New Longridge film gets screening at Whitby Film Festival Night...
Nigel Ward organiser said "I screened 'Bulldozing' last night - last on the bill - and it brought the house down. Congrats and all that - seriously, good work. I'll show your stuff everytime" Thanks Nigel and best of luck with the big festival !
7th MAY 09: BIASED GAZETTE BLACKOUT In February, I put on a showcase in Middlesbrough of 4 eco-political films made in Teesside one of which was commissioned by Friends of The Earth in London. The event was a cultural / political first for Teesside but the Evening Gazette sent nobody to report on the event and showed no subsequent interest in the films.
In March, I organised a demo outside a national climate change conference hosted by Middlesbrough Council. I had a large "Stop The Robocop Chainsaw Massacre" banner and I stood 7 foot 9 with a loudhailer leading the chant. 100s of 'Bulldozing Democracy' dvds were given out to all arriving delegates. I spoke to a Gazette reporter on the day but curiously when the report appeared 3 days later, it did not mention me, nor show the banner nor explain what the dvd being given out was about. The Northern Echo covered it all and also made a video of the event. The next day I sent Gazette editor Darren Thwaites a dvd and requested a meeting to discuss a number of issues and concerns that I had. He never replied.
In May, we took the Coatham film to Parliament. This was another cultural / political first for Teesside but it made only a meagre article buried deep in the Gazette and with no picture. The Northern Echo and the Sunday Sun ran bigger articles and with 2 pictures each. On returning from Parliament, we showed the film to 600 people in a church. This was yet another cultural / political first for Teesside but the Gazette sent nobody to the event and has shown no interest in the film.
I called the Gazette editor twice but as usual never reached him. Deputy editor Adrian Hogg did return my call stating that they had covered the story. He also asked what the big deal was about taking it to Parliament stating "who would be interested in a film about Redcar, the MP for North Surrey?" and why had we set up the show via an MP from another area and not the Redcar MP? These questions were sure reason for a journalist to look into the story but sadly not at the Gazette and their readers across Teesside weren't able to find out about it.
A few years ago, when 'A Century in Stone' was full on, all I had to do was blink and I would be in the paper. The Gazette even included me in their "101 Most Influential People in The Tees Valley" pull-out supplement! Here I am today with a feature-length documentary full of Teesside people talking about the future of Teesside's main seaside town; it is shown in the House of Commons and in Redcar to an audience of 600; and the Gazette's interest is NIL ZERO ZILCH. Will the forthcoming Vin Garbutt film get the same treatment...?
There have been far too many instances that simple coincidence cannot excuse. I have repeatedly sent in letters that have been 'overlooked' and more often than not had content neutered. The lack of interest in the Longridge, Lake and Coatham films leaves me in no doubt believing that there is a deliberate effort on the part of the Gazette to manage/downplay/contain opinion that is sharply critical of our local councils and the big regeneration schemes. We have been fed hype and spin for a decade about a golden future in the Tees Valley; about Middle- haven, North Shore, Coatham Enclosure and they have all failed to deliver at enormous expense ; and were failing long before the recession hit.
Despite all the false dawns and empty promises, why is the Gazette still so keen to keep printing without question what the councils and TVR tell them year after year? At what point does the Gazette conduct a serious evaluation / debate? Will it ever? Income from public bodies in the form of advertising is becoming increasingly important as income from selling papers to the public is dwindling. How much does this influence what gets prime coverage? If the public are fed a steady diet of patronising drivel by politicians and are not encouraged at every turn to engage in serious debate then the pandemic of apathy will only worsen. And that is bad for local democracy and also bad for local newspaper sales! I urge the Gazette to radically re-think, there are swathes of decent but disillusioned Teessiders who have stopped buying your paper.
MARCH 2009: MALLON & MBC EXPOSED
ON
THE BBC POLITICS SHOW !
From the Scottish borders to Cumbria, Northumberland
and all the way South past Whitby, the BBC Politics Show breaks the Longridge and Lake story and licences Pancrack footage to do so!
In the face of a no-nonsense BBC journalist, Mallon is knocked off balance, his arrogance and ignorance revealed to the region !
MARCH 2009: I agree with Ray... Ray told the BBC that environmentalism is all about "balance" - in fact he used the word a staggering
10 times !
Ironically, at just 1%, M'bro's tree cover is
10 times below
the national average ! So I agree with Ray -it is about "balance"
because M'bro hasn't got any !!!
WORLD EXCLUSIVE ! M'BRO CONCRETE EMITS OXYGEN ! “People have often said to me that the air in M’bro is actually cleaner than probably on the Cleveland hills for one reason and another” RAY MALLON tells BBC POLITICS SHOW 15.03.09 CLICK HEREFOR FULL INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
On 10th & 11th MARCH 2009,
Middlesbrough Council held aconference called 'LOCAL ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE' so we held a DEMO called LOCAL ACTION ON COUNCIL HYPOCRISY !
THE BEACON OF HYPOCRISY EXPOSED !
100s of DVDs and leaflets given out to speakers and delegates !
BBC POLITICS SHOW, BBC TEES, NORTHERN ECHO, EVENING GAZETTE all show up
as Ray's spin doctor and bodyguards look glumly on...But where was Ray???
ROBO-COP VAN?!! We awaited Ray Mallon's arrival but he didn't show - BUT he was in the building at 9.30 to give his speech so how did he do it?! He told BBC Tees that he went in his usual way via the back gate BUT we checked that back gate just after 9am and it was padlocked. We were also told that the back gate had never been used since the front entrance was put in a year or two ago. We believe he came in the back of the police van that sped through around 9.15 and promptly left. Either way he knew we were there and avoided us! When everyone had all but left, he did send someone out to tell us that he was coming out to speak to protestors but it was too late. The protestors had left and I was off to film the fence coming down at Longridge and got there just in time...
LONGRIDGE LIBERATED
With VIP speakers and 250 invited guests in town, MBC were busy saving face taking down the fence at Longridge and the day before the conference were also pictured in the Gazette planting trees in Coulby Newham!
Timing...the secret of comedy :-)
BBC filming post-liberation for THE POLITICS SHOW
THE COUNCIL'S COUNTRY CODE ?
'Take half the trees, leave only tyre tracks, broken fencing and any remaining trees on death row'
MAR 2009:
1,000 DVDS & FLYERS GIVEN AWAY !
Mega-thanks to a generous and anonymous sponsor, 1000 x dvds of 'Bulldozing Democracy-Beacon of Hypocrisy' and a 1000 x colour leaflets were pushed through letterboxes and sent out to the media just days ahead of Middlesbrough Council's 'Local Action on Climate Change' conference. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!
