Author: simon
Thursday, 6th August, 2009 at 12:33 pm, Isle of Wight
In the last ten minutes an Eviction Notice has been served on the remaining Vestas workers inside the building, with the eviction time given as 12pm on Friday 7th August.
The notice specifies that it will be enacted by a court bailiff, who we understand usually work with the police alongside to ensure no crime is committed.
Looking at the notice, it is addressed to Christopher Ash and all other occupiers - very strange as it’s well known that Chris left the building on Tuesday after the court hearing.
VB talk with Mark Smith, inside
We spoke to Mark Smith shortly after the notice had been posted. When we asked how it felt reading the notice, Mark said that “No different really. I don’t feel any different at all about it.”
“We’ll try and stop it happening. We want to rally as much support as we possibily can here, to stop it happening.”
He appealed for people to go along at 11am on Friday morning, “Come along tomorrow to show your support for us and try and stop this happening.
“Be here for 11am and try and stop the bailiffs, not physically stop them, but just show a presence and support that you don’t want this to happen.”
More Police outside
We understand from Jackie Hawkins, on the ground outside Vestas, that the number of police there have increased.
Mark said that there are also more senior police officers outside as well.
Earlier today the BBC reported that they had spoken to Newport court who told them that Vestas has applied for a warrant to have the bailiffs remove the remaining Vestas sit-in six.
Hear Mark’s own words …
Full size eviction notice. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Green Issues, Law & Order, Newport, Vestas Sit-In, podcast
Six occupiers remain inside the factory 
An eviction notice has been served on the occupiers remaining in the Vestas factory in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, occupiers confirm. The eviction notice states that police will remove the occupiers at noon BST tomorrow, August 7.

The occupiers of the Vestas factory have pledged to go peacefully when the police enter. Only six occupiers are believed to remain in the building, of the original 25. "Mike", speaking from inside the occupation, said that the six remaining workers have no plans to leave until the police enter the factory, but also noted that protesters gathered outside the factory will try to stop them, without physical confrontation. "We're getting everyone in town down here — workers, family, trade union members."

While the occupiers remain short of food, Mike describes their situation as "fine. We're used to it now."

Mike expressed hope that police and the law would treat them leniently, as took place at the end of the Thomas Cook occupation in Dublin, Ireland earlier this week. The police have been "very friendly. We can't fault them" noted Mike, who pointed out that occupiers leaving the factory have not even been cautioned. 

After the eviction takes place the occupiers plan to continue fighting the company, first joining the demonstrators and then speaking around the country. "We will carry on even when we are taken out of here. We will continue to fight this. We aren't just going to give up."

The occupiers, all employees of Vestas, began their sit-in on July 20 after Vestas announced plans to shut down production of wind turbines in Northern Europe, at the cost of 575 jobs in Newport and over 1400 jobs elsewhere in England and in Denmark. Mike says that other wind turbine companies have invited the Vestas Newport employees to apply for jobs at their locations, but those factories are in other parts of England or Europe and would require the workers to relocate.