

RESIDENTIAL SQUATTING CRIMINALISED
The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (including clause 136 which criminalises residential squatting) will go back to the Commons for Royal Assent & become law by May. The definition of residential buildings is vague, so it could possibly come to include non-residential buildings once enforced. This will be clarified by legal challenges. A very big thank you to the Squash campaigners & to all that lobbied against this. Click here for background.
Changes to retropective planning: What the Localism Act 2011 means for Gypsies and Travellers
Anyone with land who hasn't applied for planning should consider putting in an application NOW before the changes to retrospective planning become law. Read more here
Occupy London outside St Paul's Cathedral evicted
On 15th October 2011 the Occupy Wall Street protests went global with over 1,000 protests around the world. In the UK occupations occured in a number of towns and cities. In London, activists tried to occupy Paternoster Square in front of the London Stock Exchange where Goldman Sachs are also based. Police removed them, but they reconverged outside St Pauls Cathedral, where they remained for 4 months until they were evicted in the early hrs of Tues morning - 28th Feb. The occupation at Finsbury Square remains. The Clergy at St Pauls in media interviews echoed the views of the Occupy movement that eviction merely entailed the removal of tents, not the ideas of Occupy in critiquing the current financial system
DALE FARM's LAST STAND (Against Eviction)
On 19th-20th October, Dale Farm traveller site was evicted despite a large blockade of resistance from supporters. Click here for details of the new Traveller Solidarity Network.
TLIO Autumn Gathering 2011
TLIO held a weekend gathering from Sat 8th to Sun 9th October this year at Monkton Wyld Court, near Axminster, Dorset.
TLIO response to Future Forests Panel consultation
After the government was forced to do a u-turn on selling off Britain's woodlands, they set up a forests panel to help decide what to do next. Their consultation ended on 31st July 2011.
Thousand-Huts Campaign, Scotland
The "Thousand Huts" campaign was launched by Reforesting Scotland on 15 June 2011. The campaign website is: http://www.thousandhuts.org/
The Campaign seeks to celebrate, expand, protect & enjoy the use of huts in Scotland for living, working and relaxing in, & it is calling for: changes to the planning system to support hut building, better security of tenure for existing hutters, & an end to the eviction of hutters such as those at Barry Downs & Carnoustie.



