road protests 2004   |   road protests (current)   |   movement links

From: bardofely@ntlworld.com
Subject: Update on St David's wood
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2004 12:24:07 -0000

St David's Wood, Blackwood, Caerphilly

info, background, links & directions

Patrick Jones, brother of Nicky Wire (of The Manic Street Preachers), Nicky himself and their mum, Irene Jones are all behind the campaign to save St David's Wood. King Arthur, too is now on his way to the site.

St Davids Wood, is 5 minutes from Blackwood town centre. If going by train/bus, from Cardiff Station, bus number 26 from bay C1. Once there you can call 07811 948764 or 07708 420446 to find them.

Background to the protest -

http://uk.geocities.com/blackwood_protest/news.html - (not updated recently)

Western Mail article -

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/page.cfm?objectid=1386 4072&method=full&siteid=50082

**************************************

It is Caerphilly Council in charge of the area but the company responsible is Sirhowy Enterprise Ltd and it's Costain Engineering & Construction Ltd contracted to deliver the destruction working in partnership with Laing Roads Ltd. One main reason for the work is to provide full access to NORDAM aircraft repairs base, which protesters claim is to be used to make military planes and devices.

The wood is much bigger and more beautiful than I had thought. It is at least four thousand trees in my estimation and many are ancient beech and oak. Meadowland is also scheduled to be destroyed and it is a 2 mile stretch of road they want to make. It's enough to bring me to tears thinking about this forest being killed.

The forest is on the bank of the river running through Blackwood and is easy to find. The warden Carl lives on the river bank & he was on the front page of The Argus on Sat with 2 protesters who had stopped work by chaining themselves to bulldozers.

So far the actions of a few have successfully stopped most of the chainsaws doing their work but there is no guarantee this will continue to work & people are desperately needed if only as daytime protesters.

And my (Bard of Ely's) directions from the main street -

Find Argos on the main shopping street and opposite it you'll see a Cancer Research shop & Amusement Center, go straight down the steps past these until you get to the bottom where you'll see a Masonic Hall on the left. Go left and just at the side of the building next to it is a gully & more steps leading to a river bridge. As soon as you are over the bridge take the track on the river bank through the wood, which is also on the left. You will see Carl the Warden's house at the side of this track. He is one of the main people behind the campaign & will help protesters. The track where the trees have so far been cut is above his place in the woodland and this leads to an access road used by the contractors and their compound which they have erected.

BTW buses from Cardiff are £3.25 return which is very reasonable, and they run at about half past the hour all afternoon.

Please spread the word or join the protest!

Bard of Ely (Quest Knight LAW)

The Welsh Wizard himself -
http://www.bardofely.com
http://www.freewebs.com/bardofely/

road protests 2004   |   road protests (current)   |   movement links