Faslane: paying the price of protest

Demonstrators believe Faslane 365 contributed to the election of the new anti-Trident SNP Scottish Government, by pushing the nuclear issue into the public eye.

But it has cost the taxpayer an estimated £6m in policing bills and disrupted local communities so badly that angry parents took to the streets asking the anti-nuclear protesters to stop.

So what will be the lasting legacy of Faslane 365?

Demonstrators yesterday were in no doubt that the past 365 days will be remembered as the catalyst which pushed Scotland into a new era of peaceful anti-nuclear politics.

They came in their hundreds yesterday, dressed in colourful costumes - as red squirrels, an army of clowns and a group of Edinburgh girls known as the "peace rangers". At 7am a great cheer went up as the first demonstrators rushed the gate - a group of 30 mainly young women, with their arms linked by pipes, chains, and superglue.

On the roadside, a choir performed a special oratorio against nuclear weapons, while on the other side of the roundabout a church communion was held.

At one stage all three entrances to the Clyde base were blocked, as were the two roads into the facility at Coulport - a first for a Faslane protest.

Kimu Kjernmoem, 30, was one of a group from Gothenburg in Sweden who spent two hours chained in front of the base. "We came a long way because Trident is an international issue - nuclear weapons affect me as much as you," she said.

A 34-year-old mother, from near Hiroshima in Japan, had brought her two children to witness the event.

"It's especially important for kids to see this, otherwise they won't know," she said. "I have heard the stories of the people who survived the attack. I am frightened for my children's future."

Traffic ground to a halt as the road became a dancefloor for protesters of all ages.

Nine-year-old Flora Fitzpatrick, from Hertfordshire, had taken a week off school to attend. She said: "Nuclear weapons are bad because they kill people and if the politicians keep on going they are going to kill the whole world."

Meanwhile, 67-year-old Jean Taylor, from London, was protesting in her wheelchair.

"Some people say I'm being totally irresponsible with my health, but what is in there behind those gates is evil," she said. "I came from London because the more support we give to the people of Scotland, the more hope that your government might do us a favour by getting rid of it."

Also cheering the protesters on from the roadside yesterday were SNP politicians Bashir Ahmad and Sandra White, as well as Robin Harper and Patrick Harvie, of the Scottish Green Party.

Faslane 365 came during a year of political change north of the border, with the election of a new Scottish Government.

And yesterday First Minister Alex Salmond sent a letter pledging his support for "a responsible and peaceful protest against the replacement of Trident" adding that he "shares the objective of removing nuclear weapons from Scotland's soil".

Kate Hudson, chair of CND UK, said it had been a pivotal year for the anti-nuclear movement. "This year of protests has played its part in a major shift of public opinion across Scotland and Britain," she said.

"Here in Scotland people have voted for political change and the Trident issue is no small part of that."

Her colleague Alan MacKinnon argued that demonstrators yesterday were "representing the majority of people in Scotland".

Polls appear to support this. According to a Yougov survey in February, 66% of Scots are opposed to the government spending a capital cost of £25bn on a new nuclear missile system to replace Trident.

Only 18% were in favour of buying new bombs. The majority would rather see the money spent on public services such as local schools, hospitals and police.

But the end of Faslane 365 was greeted with celebration of another kind from many local residents who have been disrupted by the year of action.

Helensburgh councillor George Freeman said: "There will not be many people in this community who are not glad to see the back of these protests and those who have taken part in them.

"They have stopped youngsters and teachers getting back and forth to school. Health professionals and care workers have been unable to get to their clients and people have missed hospital appointments.

"If they want to influence parliament they should be demonstrating at Westminster."

Of more than 1000 arrests made, only around 50 resulted in court action, according to organisers. The majority of those arrested simply received warning letters from the procurator-fiscal.

A spokesman for the Crown Office explained that raising of criminal proceedings in court "could potentially result in a significant call on the time of police officers from across Strathclyde", resulting in only "a very modest penalty".

Nevertheless the total police bill for the year-long protest is approaching £6m.

Chief Superintendent Mitch Rodger, divisional commander of Strathclyde Police, said yesterday the year-long protest had caused a "drain on resources".

"We have a series of initiatives on alcohol, knives and violent crime which, in the absence of Faslane 365, will now have a full complement of officers for the benefit of the whole community."

Angie Zelter, one of the founders of Faslane 365, admitted policing costs were "atrocious" but argued that the Ministry of Defence, not Strathclyde Police, should pick up the bill.

She added: "Yes, our protests have disrupted local people but I think Trident is very disruptive to all our lives. People no longer think they can do anything about Trident. But our protests have kept Trident on the agenda the whole year round and now people in Scotland have voted for parties that would oppose Trident."