As Bury St Edmunds-based brewer Greene King won planning approval for its new £40 million brewery on Suffolk Park last week, we delved into the Bury Free Press archives for our coverage of a historic planning battle which made national headlines.
In the late 1990s, eco-warriors took up residence in the Water Meadows trees, off Cullum Road, in protest against an access road to the brewery site.
In 1997, Greene King applied to build a 200-metre access road to its warehouse, off Maynewater Lane, to Cullum Road.
The brewer was expanding its Bury operations after closing its Biggleswade brewery. The firm said the road would remove 208,000 vehicle movements a year away from the town’s historic grid.
Opponents to the scheme protested, citing environmental concerns, thus sparking a memorable long-running battle – covered in detail by the Bury Free Press.
A protest outside Greene King, against its proposed access road, in December 1997. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, March 21, 1997
Wildlife campaigners hit out at early proposals by Greene King to build across the Water Meadows, however the firm said any such scheme would remove lorries from the town’s historic core.
Bury Free Press, June 20, 1997
Greene King submitted a planning application to build its access road, including a roundabout in Cullum Road.
Conservationist Doreen Tilley said the new road would still leave a large number of lorries on the town’s roads, while Greene King director Jonathan Clarke said: “We recognise it is a sensitive area so we have had to plan responsibly.”
Bury Free Press, November 7, 1997
St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s planning committee went against officers’ recommendations to approve the access road in principle.
Wildlife campaigners had objected to the road and planning officers had advised councillors to refuse the application, which went against the council’s town plan.
Eco warriors plant a tree in Cullum Road, in January 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, December 5, 1997
Eco-warriors from all over the country were lined up to live in trees or tunnels to stop the Greene King access road from being built.
Linda Jollin, of campaign group Land is Ours, said: “I can foresee a Swampy-style campaign with tree-dwellers and tunnellers.”
A protest against the Greene King access road at the Water Meadows on December 22, 1997. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, December 19, 1997
Campaigner Joe Scanlan went on a 100-hour hunger strike in protest over the controversial access road.
He vowed to drink only water, saying: “This is a way of protesting which harms nobody.”
A protest against the Greene King access road at the Water Meadows on December 22, 1997. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors enjoy a mince pie on the Water Meadows on Christmas Day, 1997. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, December 24, 1997
Eco-warriors of all ages occupied the Water Meadows for what they called a ‘Celebration of the Land’, while protesters said the land would remain occupied until the access road plans were thrown out.
Several of them had been sleeping in a willow tent covered in plastic sheeting, known as a bender.
The camp even had its own address for cards and messages of goodwill: The Millennium Dome, Water Meadows Defence Camp, Cullum Road, Bury.
A protest by torchlight against the Greene King access road, January 7, 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveA protest by torchlight against the Greene King access road, January 7, 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, January 2, 1998
Protesters lined up a series of events as part of their campaign against the new road, including a torchlight pilgrimage from the Abbeygate.
Meanwhile, despite high winds and rain battering the Cullum Road camp on Christmas Day, a ‘constant stream’ of visitors bearing gifts visited the eco-warriors, bearing gifts including mince pies and hot soup.
Eco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, January 9, 1998
Eco-warriors against the 200-metre Greene King access road said they would take to the trees, after the Water Meadows road was agreed by St Edmundsbury Borough Council planners.
The planning committee voted 13-4 in favour of what planning director Jerry Massey called ‘one of the most contentious applications this committee has had to consider’.
A 300 signature protest petition was submitted, with 83 letters objecting to the plan.
The planning decision was welcomed by Greene King.
Director Jonathan Clarke said: “In the blaze of publicity surrounding the eco-warriors’ campaign, many of the facts surrounding Greene King’s proposals have been lost or deliberately ignored.
“Our plans include sowing a wildflower meadow, planting native hedgerows and trees and establishing one permanent wet pond and two flood hollows.
Bury Free Press, January 23, 1998
Eco-warriors constructed a platform which they occupied 24 hours a day on a rota system.
Eco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, February 20, 1998
Notices were posted around the Water Meadows site, in Cullum Road, saying Greene King had applied to the High Court for repossession of the land, which protesters had occupied since December.
As a legal representative read out the official notice over a megaphone, protesters climbed their platforms in the trees and said they would ask for the High Court hearing to be delayed.
February 27, 1998
A High Court hearing gave Greene King permission to throw eco-warriors off the Water Meadows site.
Eco warriors: Greene King secures the gate to the Water Meadows on March 6, 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors: Greene King secures the gate to the Water Meadows on March 6, 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, March 6, 1998
Police arrested two eco-warriors as Greene King cut through a gate to clear the way for a future eviction of the Water Meadows site.
The eco-warriors had chained themselves to the metal gate at the rubble-strewn entrance to the site, off Cullum Road.
Greene King said the firm wanted to secure the gate shut to stop any more vehicles going on to the site.
Police accompanied the firm’s workmen to ask protesters to move away from the gate.
The first protester, Otter, was quickly cut free and taken to Bury Police Station. Workmen took a further hour to carefully dig through the rubble to free the second, Barekneed Bob.
Eco warriors: Greene King secures the gate to the Water Meadows on March 6, 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors: Greene King secures the gate to the Water Meadows on March 6, 1998. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, March 27, 1998
Eco-warriors climbed down from the treetop platforms to dance the night away with fellow campaigners at a ceilidh, at the Corn Exchange, to raise funds for the legal battle to stop the access road.
Greene King had served a writ giving protesters 48 hours notice to leave the site, but the campaigners said they were leaving anyway due to lack of public support.
Campaigner Joe Scanlan said: “I think people in Bury should be ashamed for not giving us their support.
“If people want to live in a concrete jungle that is their choice, but we are doing this for future generations.”
Eco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, April 3, 1998
Eco-warriors moved off the Water Meadows after being evicted by Greene King.
The protesters promised to leave quietly after being allowed extra time to pack their belongings.
There were no loud protests, no-one chained themselves to any trees and no arrests were made.
The ‘love shack’ caravan was carefully moved off site so it could be towed away by campaigners, and a dozen or so police officers kept watch.
Eco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Once on site, tree surgeons climbed up to the platforms – the sleeping quarters for protesters since January – and pulled them down.
Later the same week, St Edmundsbury Borough Council said it would prosecute a company which illegally chopped down nine protected trees and severely damaged another during the eviction.
Eco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archiveEco warriors leave the Water Meadows, in Bury St Edmunds, on April 1, 1998, following a long-running camp in protest against a proposed Greene King access road through the site. Picture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, April 10, 1998
In April 1998, the eco-warriors accused St Edmundsbury Borough Council of bowing to big firms by granting Greene King planning approval for the access road.
They protested in front of a council roadshow on Angel Hill, which was being held to promote the council’s work in the community.
Jerry Massey, from the council, said: “The council does listen very carefully to people’s views and it’s wrong to suggest it doesn’t.”
Eco warriors demosntrate on Angel Hill against the proposed Greene King access road, on April 6, 1998. PIcture: Bury Free Press archive
Bury Free Press, April 16, 1999
The access road was put on hold after a judge overturned the planning permission.
In January 1998, campaigner Linda Wallace was granted leave to proceed with a judicial challenge on the grounds the borough council should have submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Mr Justice Hooper said in the High Court that the borough council planning officer who said Greene King should not submit an EIA had no legal authority to make the decision.
Bury Free Press, December 10, 1999
Greene King submitted new plans for its access road, eight months after the original planning permission was overturned.
Campaign leader Doreen Tilley said: “I’m still not altogether happy with the report and I feel some aspects haven’t been covered properly.”
Greene King’s public relations manager said 93 per cent of the area would be enhanced by the access road development.
The road was eventually constructed in the early 2000s.