DISCO DAVE'S TUNNEL GUIDE
Objective
Why tunnel? Why persevere for weeks more often months constructing a tunnel or series of tunnels with all the inevitable problems that will arise and must be constantly overcome?. The options are so much more attractive , don't bother, get drunk , build a tree house or lock on (ch15) instead. The aforementioned are tried and tested methods of defence against the earth rapist. From Twyford Down to Crystal Palace to Arthurs wood , tree houses of varying designs have featured on protest camps. Their size limited only by the tree they occupy. If protesters have established a camp in a wooded area earmarked for felling it is pretty much guaranteed tree houses will soon blossom within the dizzy heights of an oak or sycamore. From the local supporters bringing food to the hardened campaigner living on site. The tree house is not only a defensive structure but a potent symbol of defiance that can be seen for miles by friend and foe alike. By contrast a tunnel during construction will on the surface at least look like nothing more than a hole in the ground surrounded by soil and bits of junk. (unless of course it is an open cast which I will elaborate on in a later chapter). This is one of the eviction tunnels greatest strengths. What seems like an innocuous hole in the ground could be just that going under only a few feet. Or it could be the entrance to a tunnel stretching for miles (I'm optomistic for the future). The people digging the tunnel will know of course but the big bad bailiff won't until eviction day (see Tunnel security-ch 11). It is highly likely the authorities will have people observing the extent and nature of the defences they have to confront. Tree houses , barricades etc are visible. The authorities can therefore make a rough estimate at the cost of evicting them. With a tunnel it is difficult to make this calculation and a team of bailiff tunnellers will have to be hired regardless (and at great expense). Removing protesters from the No M11 campaign and at Newbury cost £11 and £25 million respectively and this was just from trees and squatted buildings. If there were protesters underground on these two occasions the cost would have been significantly higher. That ultimately is the purpose of tunnels and treehouses. To act as a deterrent warning the authorities that should they decide to evict ,then it will hurt them where for them it hurts most in the pocket. The proposed developments at Guildford in Surrey and Yeovil in Somerset during the late 1990's are examples of the deterrent factor succeeding both have been cancelled because the developers could not afford to evict the tunnel systems. However should the authorities decide to go ahead with the eviction process the outcome is inevitable. For no under Sheriff is going to give up on an eviction half way through. Once started its all or nothing. The cost may go massively over budget but to them better that then let the "hippy scum" be seen to so blatantly defeat them. Tunnelling has become one of the only really effective ways to fight the developers. The authorities explain to the media that they dislike tunnels because they fear for the protesters safety. This is really just nonsense ,they couldn't give a damn. Their only fear is losing money. Tunnelling can be scary , but it scares them a hell of a lot more.
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