It was only a couple of weeks ago that protectors created a new anti-fracking camp in the shadow of the Trafford Centre, underneath Barton Bridge in Davyhulme.
In the days that followed Peel Holdings, which owns the land, and United Utilities, which leases the land from them, have been to court to win a possession order, and over the past few days protectors have been heavily fortifying the Camp to fend off eviction teams…
…But last night protectors from Salford, Trafford and beyond, led by Bez, dramatically handed the land back to Peel Holdings saying the air was too toxic to stay, while handing out warnings to people going to the Trafford Centre and using the nearby soccer dome and Chill Factore.
"I support these people who say they're all ill and there's been sightings of uranium tankers leaving the place, there's a feeling that there's something terrible going on in the area, so it's time to leave" Bez told the Salford Star
"We've got to thank them for coming down here and bringing to our attention the fact that there is something definitely not right here" he added "The air pollution is so bad that everyone's become ill so people have got to leave and we recommend that people stay away.
"The people using the Trafford Centre's sports facilities should be warned about the consequences of them being in the area for too long" he added "We need it investigating, and we want answers. Something needs to be done, we want Geiger counters and air monitoring equipment to find out why people are becoming ill and what is the threat to the rest of the community in the area."
Last week, the Salford Star revealed how air pollution in the Salford area just across the canal is actually killing people. It's the most polluted area in the whole of Greater Manchester and possibly the North West (see previous Salford Star article – click here).
The Davyhulme Community Protection Camp was right at the epicentre of a perfect air pollution storm – above were the fumes from Barton Bridge M60 traffic, ahead was a water processing plant belching out yellow smoke, further on was the sewage works, and to the Camp's right was the site of Peel Holdings' controversial incinerator, opposed by both Salford and Trafford Councils on the grounds of potential health effects on their communities.
The actual Camp itself was set up on the actual site where IGas want to plonk a fracking site – but protectors quickly discovered that they were getting ill from breathing the site's air. They even spotted a tanker carrying uranium leaving the water treatment works.
Meanwhile, the Camp was scarcely populated at times as so many people were at the doctors. And the protectors even felt sorry for the dozens of lowly paid security guards placed behind wire fences guarding the site…
"We're leaving because people are getting ill" said Ste, one of the protectors "We're ruining our health for a cause but they're just drawing a bit of dollar, it's not fair."
Dianne, whose lips swelled up and was unwell during the duration of her stay at the Camp echoed the health concerns…
""We've always been family orientated but we can't have families bringing their children here" she explained "We've actually advised people not to come here because it's so bad. We're going for our own safety."
And Mason Corbishley, from Trafford's Breathe Clean Air Group, which has been trying to draw the local community's attention to the horrendous air quality of the area, while battling Peel Holdings' incinerator plans, underlined the point…
"The air is too toxic and the land is not to be lived on" he explained "Everyone needs to be protected and there's no protection around here – you've got the motorway, the methane plant, the sewage works, everything.
"You can feel it even when you're just down here for an hour; you start to get headaches, people have got sores on their lips and faces, it's horrible" he added "I live on the other side of the sewage works and have kind of acclimatised but I can feel it down here. My chest starts to go, headaches kick in, it's horrible."
What started out as an anti-fracking protest turned very quickly into drawing the community's attention to the almost post-apocalyptic horror that's going off in the shadow of the Trafford Centre.
Last night, Bez had hoped to hand the land back to Peel Holdings with a message about the toxicity of the company's land. But a rep from Peel Holdings never showed up.
"There wasn't much chance of Peel turning up because I don't think they've got any interest in the people and what's happening here" said Bez "They're already committed to their cause. We are going to try and call a meeting with Peel and appeal to their better sense that fracking ain't the way forward and that they should be investing in sustainable futures that's better for the area and better for everyone else.
"We'll try and get across to them how terrible fracking is going to be for the area and for everybody" he added "If someone gets to him [Peel Holdings' svengali John Whittaker], and gives him a bit of love you never know…"
In Bez's dreams maybe. Peel Holdings is one of the most ruthless, profit chasing, land exploiting companies in the whole country. Meanwhile, Peel has control of its own toxic land again with a warning from protectors, many wearing anti-pulltion masks, ringing in the company's ears…
"If you frack, we'll be back!"
Photos by Steven Speed
See also previous Salford Star articles…
* M60 camera spies on Davyhulme protectors – click here
* Davyhulme Camp Faces Eviction – click here
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