OUR LIVES WERE PUT AT RISK !!!!
We have some shocking news. On a recent visit to the proposed Clashindarroch windfarm site, the lives of our team were put at risk by the reckless actions of Vattenfall contractors.
As we approached the site as you can see from the pictures above, it now looks like a high security facility. Signage and cameras everywhere. Remember this is a public forest, we have visited the site hundreds of times. The main gate was unusually padlocked shut and so this immediately suggested that something was happened that they didn’t’ want us to see. us that something was going on. We circled around and the side roads were open. As we entered the site, in the distance we could see what looked like trees being felled. We drove towards the activity whilst observing the speed limit in the forest.
Suddenly, a pick Vattenfall contractor, pick up truck approached us at speed and starting following us. When we were a few hundred yards from the felling, the road widened slightly for a small stretch. We were heading downhill on an extremely dusty and slippery road. The car that that was tracking us sped up and went along side us in an attempt to cut us off, run us off the road. The roads have step sides and there are log piles and machinery. The aggressive driving could have caused us to veer off and if they had of got in front of us, any attempt to stop suddenly on those roads would have certainly resulted in a potentially fatal accident.
Our team were obviously extremely shaken and turned off the main track at the first opportunity and stopped. The pick up truck followed us and stopped at the entrance of the side track. After gaining composure we attempted to reverse and leave the site. The contractor vehicle then moved quickly towards us blocking us in. We videoed this. We had no choice but to continue down the side track where another contractor had opened a gate so we could leave. The original contractor vehicle disappeared.
The police arrived quickly and we gave full statements. We explained what had happened and that we felt that our lives were in danger. Even the police commented that the roads are particularly dangerous when completely dried out and stopping suddenly would likely cause loss of control. We gave full statements and we sent them the video evidence we had of both the aggressive driving and the illegal logging,
We gave witness statements for around an hour. The police said they would now launch an extensive investigation into both the alleged life-threatening conduct of the contractors and also the illegal logging. They said they would be contacting all relevant authorities and taking statements from the Vattenfall contractor staff.
We were in a public forest simply doing our job. Monitoring for wildcats and identifying any illegal activity. Indeed the enforcement team at the council have previously asked us to attend the site to check, confirm and document any illegal activity. We are allowed to be there and even the police confirmed that. We never expected to be confronted with such hostility and aggression. It just shows the extreme lengths Vattenfall and their contractors will go to, in order to cover up what they are doing.
It was an extremely traumatic experience for the team members involved, but rest assured, it has strengthened our resolve even further. We will be visiting site again shortly, as something very bad is happening there, but this time ourselves and our vehicles will be have cameras attached. WE WILL NOT BE BULLIED OUT OF THE FOREST. THAT IS A GUARANTEE.
The police asked to give them a little time to collect evidence and contact multiple authorities. We will follow up with them next week.
Vattenfall and associated staff have stolen our cameras, carried out illegal logging and now threatened our lives. Their conduct is indescribably appalling. But like the wildcat, we will now fight harder than ever. The forest is still there and so are the wildcats, so we will never give up.
As always we can only continue our fight with your support and we will be now looking to add a criminal lawyer to our legal team.
We simply have to win this fight for the wildcats. We need your help more than ever. As always, you can continue to support us at:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildcats/
Thanks so much as always
Emily and a shaken, but highly determined Wildcat Haven Team