ActorVist Ross Monaghan - Part 3b

Two Camps & A Deplorable Incident - directed by, and starring, Actorvist Ross Monaghan,

Continued...

Repertoire definition (noun) -

• a stock of plays, dance, or items that a company or a performer knows or is prepared to perform

• the whole body of items which are regularly performed

• a stock of skills or types of behaviour that a person habitually uses

Known as the 'Gateway to the Chilterns', Wendover is a small, picturesque market town and civil parish with, at the time of the 2011 census, a population of 7,399. Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Ridgeway National Trail passes through the High Street, with an additional thirty-three miles of public rights of way and bridleways criss-crossing the parish. However, the construction of HS2 is about to destroy the natural idyll of the area along with the homes, livelihoods and way of life for the residents of Wendover.

Plans show a ready-mix concrete plant is to be built north of Wendover, adjacent to the by-pass with approximately 50 articulated lorries a day servicing it. Neighbouring the A413, close to the Small Dean viaduct construction site, a bentonite plant will be built alongside a 240 bed accommodation block. With HS2 haul roads to be constructed either side of the A413, residents of Wendover have complained their small village will resemble Spaghetti Junction.

Wendover

Following Ross Monaghan's hasty departure from Great Missenden, he put a shout-out for aid to help him build a new camp at Wendover. The resulting response was less of a deluge and more of a drip, with the number of protesters willing to lend their time and support to his ambitions proving to be minimal. He was eventually joined, amongst a very few others, by three full-time activists, all of whom had, at one time or another, been residents of the recently evicted 'New Hope' anti-fracking camp near Blackpool's, Cuadrilla owned, fracking site. Chris Wilson, also known as 'Jag' or 'Jag Wag', Jimmy Ed and Callum Eden (Callie Riviera).

Appeals for money, tobacco, food and other items considered essential for camp survival were the norm throughout the life of New Hope. Residents cooked meals, facilitated transport, baths and did laundry for those staying on the camp sites.

However, after many months of support, some residents began to doubt the true nature of certain individuals amongst those they had so willingly looked after in the beginning. "...us locals have spent hundreds & thousands feeding, cooking, showering, running them around, fulfilling their wish lists of food items, DIY etc, car loads at a time, give money to help, bought essentials - to in return be treated in an appalling manner and even told to F Off by some of those we helped."

Following the New Hope eviction, a fundraising campaign, instigated by Fiona Smith and Lola Ridge, was successful in raising £500.00 for each of those affected by the clearing of the site.

On the 2nd of January 2020 the group started their Facebook page, Wendover Active Resistance Camp, or "WAR" Camp, with an impressive statement that they had already been, and would be in the future, "working closely with the local community to fulfil key aims:

The Resistance of continued work by HS2 and contractors Community awareness, engagement, training and education A physical hub for the community and the local campaign Protect the ecosystem, animals and woodlands surrounding Wendover Protecting the community when called upon Resisting forced evictions"

Shortly after this they enthusiastically posted their first 'wish list'. "Been an amazing start and camp has been in place for a few days now but if anyone can help with a few items that would amazing

- fire wood - Building wood - Washing up bowls - Sponges - Washing up liquid - Toilet paper - Leisure batteries - Fairy lights - Bread - Noodles - Pasta - Assorted veg - Candles - Jars - Tin opener - Potatoes - Cereal - Eggs - Ground coffee - Chocolate"

Now call us slightly cynical but if you look around a wood you can always find dead branches, at least to start with, the only thing you have to check is that it isn't someone else's home you are about to burn. We understand the process can be a bit laborious so why bother when some nice local will deliver it already prepared for you?

Why would a protest camp require "fairy lights" when you can get solar path lights, surely much more practical?

Also, please keep in mind that some of those people on camp had not long been given £500.00, but why spend your own money on ground coffee when...

On the 5th of January Monaghan has yet another issue he requires solving.

The good news is the police 'recovered' him. That was convenient!

Oh dear it seems as though Monaghan might be in some financial difficulties. Perhaps the police weren't as valiant as he first thought. Not only has his van been impounded because someone, allegedly, deliberately sabotaged it, but he had to borrow £200.00 to get it out of police custody. He also requires a further £250.00 (or is it £230.00?) to get it repaired. Unfortunately Monaghan doesn't have any money because the person who was going to employ him has "f**ked him over" so he is going to have to either have the money donated, yet again, or take out a long-term loan. Presumably the "loan" would be from someone who doesn't really mind just handing over the requested amount, given his work record! We, the Green Wash authors, were also wondering where he stayed whilst the drama was unfolding?!

On the 16th of January in response to a post about the Actorvists being out and about meeting the community, a reporter from the local BBC radio station commented "...a shame you won't engage with the local radio station. I have reported on HS2 issues/protests for many many years and this is the first time people have refused to speak to me. My door remains open and I hope someone from the camp will talk to me and our listeners".

The camp posted a very grammatically stunning and enlightening response, "we are still in the process of setting up camp. I hope u appreciate that consensus decisions are important while we are still in the early stages. Thanks for your interest".

On a more serious note, the debate proved convenient for a local resident who had some pressing questions for HS2 and struck up a conversation with the man from the BBC. "Please ask HS2 land and property why they have stalled payment on compulsory purchase? Awaiting notice to proceed but still digging and felling trees? Who else can move in and pay later?"

The man from the BBC seemed baffled, but continued to remain polite. "I'm even more confused now. You're actively appealing to members of the community to pop down with supplies - but you won't speak to the local radio station because you're in the process of setting up. As I say I have never come across this before in all my years of covering HS2 protests. My door is always open and I hope you change your mind. I think its really important that listeners know who is in their community and what they are standing for. We did this in Great Missenden recently and people were grateful for the coverage and incredibly accommodating. All the best [.]"

However, seizing the moment and overcoming his bewilderment, the man from the BBC passed his email on to the troubled resident and managed to sort out the important stuff Listening and connecting with local people, understanding their concerns, offering help and trying to get the answers to vital questions. Meanwhile, Ross and his cast of few were sorting out their "WAR camp".

Wendover Tower!

By the 19th of January 'supplies' at the camp were once again running low and yet another 'wish list', their fourth since camp opened, was posted:

"- outdoor fairy lights - long (solar) - water containers 200l - shovels - very large frying pan - pair of thick long drop curtains - 12 v wire - ply wood (any and all) - wood beams - pallets (as usual)"

It seems Wendover shops don't stock fairy lights!

On the 28th of January a crowd-funder was started which reached its total goal of £400.00. The money was to go to camp for practical equipment such as ropes and climbing gear.

On the 30th of January the Police Armed Response Unit was deployed to camp following an 'incident'.

Ms X, her autistic son and their family dog arrived at camp with all their gear, including lots of donations, intending to stay and help with the campaign. Unfortunately, after giving an incorrect address to the taxi driver, Ms X and her son were dropped off in the wrong part of the wood and ended up doing a near 8 mile walk, carrying with them their belongings. On arrival Ms X and her son were not met with gratitude, empathy and a soothing cup of tea, but instead were subjected to a barrage of questions, which can only be described as being akin to an "interrogation". On informing the camp residents she couldn't climb trees, and wouldn't want her son doing so either, Ms X was told to leave immediately as it was an 'active camp'. Her belongings were promptly thrown out of the gate and into the mud.

Both Ms X and her son became fearful. Her son, by now extremely distressed and agitated (bearing in mind he is autistic and couldn't understand what was happening), pulled out a small, Swiss army style knife with a 2" axe attachment and began to hack at a fallen branch. In the pandemonium that ensued, with Ms X desperately trying to calm her son down and the residents of the camp telling her to leave, one of the protesters rang 999.

Suddenly the Armed Response Unit arrived, jumped out of their vans, proceeded to stop all the traffic and stood in the road, with two of the officers pointing guns at the 'unwelcome guests'. It quickly became apparent to the police Ms X and her son were of no risk, and the situation began to diffuse. All at once, Monaghan started shouting out that Ms X's dog was a dangerous breed, it had bitten his dog and had tried to bite him. Ms X strongly refuted this at the time. By now however, Ms X's son had been arrested, handcuffed and put in the back of the armed response vehicle.

Eventually the police began to reason their journey had been highly unnecessary, called a taxi for Ms X, her son and the dog, helped her gather her belongings out of the mud and put them in the taxi for her.

A local Wendover resident visiting camp at the time witnessed the whole unpleasant and deplorable, debacle of shame. News of the 'incident' landed in the Green Wash's email box, along with the information that Ms X, a strong supporter of Extinction Rebellion, had sent a full report to them.

Once you stop laughing at the sheer lunacy of the situation, take a pause for thought. Imagine giving up your time and money to go and support a protest camp, walking eight miles carrying camping gear and donations, trailing your autistic son (who has spent his pocket money on a gift of vegan shortbread) and family dog with you. On finally reaching your destination you are met with hostility and a barrage of abuse, your belongings, along with the gifts and donations you had brought, casually thrown into the mud . How would you feel to find armed police pointing their guns at you and your, by now, extremely distressed son? We can't even begin to imagine, it must have all seemed like one surreal nightmare!

The Green Wash authors are aware that Ms X and her son were not the only people refused entry that day, at least two other people had been ordered to leave. This is a protest site with residents who can happily post wish lists, have local supporters who donate supplies, including ground coffee, and sit round the fire whilst visiting; so why don't they want people staying on site? We, the Green Wash authors, can only assume it's because they don't want anyone to know, outside of their small clique, what is really going on at their camp. It should also be recognised that the fewer the numbers there are on site, the easier it is to evict them.

By the 31st of January however, it was 'business-as-usual' for WAR as they posted yet another wish list on their Facebook page:

"- tomatoes - peppers - eggs - bread - quorn mince - chilli peppers - bananas

- chicken wire - tall ladder (to borrow) - sharp / new saw"

On the 2nd of February it became common knowledge that Jimmy Ed, one of the original group who joined Monaghan in setting up the camp, had left and moved to Stop HS2. Harvil Road. His motivations for leaving are not widely known, however in response to the question "I thought you were at Wendover?" Ed replied "nope decided to leave for various reasons".

On the 4th of February yet another wish list went up:

"- ground coffee - Alternative milk (not soy) - Margarine / spread - Coffee whitener - Olive oil - Fresh fruit juice - Onions - Garlic - Spinach - Chilli peppers - Broccoli / cauliflower - Tomatoes - Tomato puree - Corn beef - Sardines - Beans - Kidney beans - Sweetcorn - Cereal - Musli - Tupleware / plastic container - Building wood - Climbing gear - Pallets"

Between the 3rd of January and the 29th of February, a period of eight weeks, the Actorvists posted 13 requests for donations or help in one form or another, including:

Fairy Lights (twice)

Climbing Equipment (after the fund-raiser had been started)

Leisure Batteries

Smart Phone / IPhone

Ground Coffee

Olive Oil

Fresh Fruit Juice

Fire Wood

Toilet Paper

Chocolate

Frying Pan

Cooking Pot

Rope

Sawdust

Woodchip

Pallets

Ply Wood

Wooden Beams

Snacks

Chocolate Spread

Water Containers

12 v Wire

Thick long drop curtains (presumably for Wendover Tower)

Chicken wire

New Saw

Foam/Roll Mats

Daktarin Cream

Volunteers to leaflet (isn't that why they are there?)

Granola

Tea Towels

Poly Prop Rope (in addition to what they received from the fund-raiser)

Micro USB Charging Cable

People to stay on-site for a couple of nights (didn't they tell everyone to go away?)

There have been some concerns raised over whether the Wendover Resistance Camp is situated in the wrong place to fight HS2. However, in order for HS2 to be completed substantial amounts of essential construction materials are required, factories in which to manufacture the materials, a large workforce, somewhere to house them and parking for hundreds of HS2 lorries and vehicles.

Design for Wendover ‘sibling’ HS2 viaducts

It is close to the proposed bentonite plant, ready-mix concrete factory and accommodation blocks you will find the Wendover Resistance Camp. But what is bentonite, and why is it so important?

Bentonite is usually composed from the weathering of volcanic ash, most frequently in the presence of water, to form clay. For industrial purposes two main classifications of bentonite exist, sodium and calcium bentonite. When wet sodium bentonite expands it absorbs several times its dry mass, it has proved to be the essential ingredient in a multitude of industrial processes including:

• In drilling muds and fluids

• In iron and steel foundries

• As a groundwater barrier to prevent fluid migration (for example, waterproofing below-grade wells), sealing off the annulus of a well and plugging old wells

• For the subsurface sealing of disposal systems for spent nuclear fuel

• As a support and lubricant agent in diaphragm walls and foundations, in tunnelling, in horizontal directional drilling and pipe jacking

• In Portland cement and mortars

Without these essential buildings the expense to the tax payer of constructing HS2, already spiralling out of control, would rise even further. Imagine the additional cost to the project if by protesting, the local community manage to bring about long delays?

What would happen if a camp was put on a planned factory site and bailiffs came and evicted it, and if, following the camp's eviction, an injunction stopping any further protests was put in place?

Imagine what a forward injunction team could do to your campaign?

Try to picture for a moment your whole life has been turned upside and you are about to lose everything you and your family have worked for. Unexpectedly, some people parachute into your backyard promising to save you, but suddenly you realise, far too late, your saviours had just fleeced you, when you were at your lowest and most vulnerable and whilst you were shouting out for help?