The Carmarthen Nuclear Bunker

This firm was actively involved in the Carmarthen Nuclear Bunker case which began in March 1985 and continued over the next 3 years with important implications for the peace movement and civil liberties.

Nuclear Bunker Carmarthen

The firm was involved in representing the peace protestors but Mike Reed ended up as one of the 17 defendants in High Court proceedings brought by the Council. The saga began in March 1985 when the Home Office encouraged the Carmarthenshire District Council to build an emergency control centre (nuclear bunker) with the promise of a 75% grant.

The Council began work without planning permission, but in September 1985 local peace protestors occupied the site, thereby stopping work. The Council evicted the protestors with a writ for possession and then built a 12ft high spiked fence around the site which was guarded by a security firm and Alsatian dogs. On 25th October 1985 the protestors obtained a High Court Injunction stopping work as the Council had no planning permission, and then carried out a canvas of some 8000 local residents, which showed that 97% of local people canvassed were against the bunker. The Carmarthenshire District Council then gave themselves planning permission in December and work continued.

In January 1986 there was a demonstration and a number of protestors attempted to climb over the security fence and gain access to the site and some were injured by security guards, including one woman who had her finger torn off. On 19th March 1986, Carmarthenshire District Council obtained a High Court Injunction against 17 peace protestors, including Mike Reed preventing them from entering the construction site, blockading it, or inciting others to do so. The proceedings also included a claim of damages of up to £250,000 alleging conspiracy to trespass.

The High Court proceedings had serious implications for the peace movement in general and for the civil liberties of any group involved in peaceful protest. The injunction itself prevented any of the defendants continuing with the entirely lawful means of protest, as if they did they could be taken back to court for contempt on the basis that their actions would have incited others.

The action for damages for tortious conspiracy had far wider implications, as if the Council had succeeded it would have meant that any group of protestors involved in for instance protesting at the site of a nuclear installation or an American Base, or a factory where animal experiments were carried out would be liable to be sued for damages for conspiracy to trespass, and the damages claimed could consist of all the extra security precautions taken by the institution in question such as erecting a fence or employing security guards.

After a number of court proceedings and with intense media interest and widespread support from the public for the protestors, the Council eventually dropped the case. The true cost of building the Nuclear Bunker, employing the security firm and taking out court proceedings is unknown. Shortly after the conclusion of this case, government policy changed as the Cold War came to an end and it is believed the bunker has never been used.

Nuclear Bunker Carmarthen

Nuclear Bunker Carmarthen

Nuclear Bunker Carmarthen

Nuclear Bunker Carmarthen

Nuclear Bunker Carmarthen