shafts are filled, the coal at ParkLancs WAPC side will be lost forever. It will squander both 2,000 jobs and a IN THE EARLY morning of 24 natural asset.
Seventy of us quietly walked June, -people gathered in down the road then surged Newton-le-Willows to em- through the gates. The gates had bark on the latest successful been hastily erected a month action defending Parkside earlier when bailiffs and police colliery. It is a profitable pit: evicted the pit camp from Parkthe last deep mine in Lanca- side. Security guards tried to shire. prevent us getting onto the pit We aimed to take control of while police stood by, awaiting the pit lanes again, in order to orders. obstruct limestone intended for After we sat blocking the lane, turned back the lorries of stone. While Lancashire Against Pit Closures and their supporters sent out for seventy breakfasts. reporters asked for the usual interviews. Another success!
British Coal however weren't so happy. Colliery manager Nixon raced over to get a Warrington Court order to remove us. By lunch he was back, sent packing by the judge without his order, to hear us refuse to leave once more. turning back had been stopped at source.
We had clapped and cheered each other as we had blocked the only entrance to the pit. Our discipline, exact planning and determination has once again won the day. We left at five.
British Coal, not knowing when we would return, sent no further lorries that dav or Saturday before a slower delivery of the limestone started on Monday lunchtime.
The pit camp continues round-the-clock, just 20 yards. from the spot we started 18 months earlier. It is a rallying point for or fight for the pit. From the camp we go out and support the struggles of others. This is how we have grown and survived. Our support has increased as we have ioined others in struggle.
Our fight to save Parkside will continue as long as the twin towers stand, and the mineshafts remain unfilled. We fight for our communities. Parkside belongs to them. It belongs to us all.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 66, July 1994, Page 6 ID CAKES