Your Oxford
Get involved: send your photos, videos, news & views by texting 'OXFORD NEWS' to 80360 or email »
Councillor arrested in tree felling protest
8:30pm Wednesday 9th January 2008
Comments (63)A prominent councillor was dragged away, handcuffed and arrested after the latest Oxford tree-felling protest today.
Deborah Glass Woodin had gathered in Norfolk Street with a handful of campaigners after it emerged Oxford City Council had started to cut down 100-year-old London plane trees in preparation for the demolition of the Westgate car park.
But after workmen fenced off an area in nearby Greyfriars Street and started to saw down trees, a standoff with police became heated.
Protesters complained that demolition of the car park was not definite because there still had to be a public inquiry over the future of the site.
Ms Glass Woodin, a 45-year-old county councillor, mother-of-two and widow of former Green group leader Mike Woodin, tried to enter the public car park but was prevented from doing do.
Crying and hysterical, she was arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass by two officers as an angry crowd tried to prevent her being bundled into the back of a police car.
And just when it looked like the situation had calmed down, Jericho boatyard veteran Bruce Hegarty slipped through a cordon and managed to shin up a tree.
As the Oxford Mail went to press tonight, he was still there, supported by a crowd.
At least 14 police and Police Community Support Officers sealed off all entrances to the car park, while others filmed and photographed protesters.
Before her arrest, Ms Glass Woodin said: "I am embarrassed to be associated with an organisation (city council) that behaves in this way. It's as if they are saying all this is a forgone conclusion.
"I am not a tree-hugger. I am a democracy-lover and they have no right to pre-empt the result of a public inquiry."
Although planning permission has been granted for the redevelopment of the Westgate Centre - including the demolition of the car park - the result of a public inquiry held into the compulsory purchase of sheltered housing in Abbey Place is due early next month.
Until then, the car park cannot be knocked down.
Councillors representing Carfax ward, in which the disturbance occurred, said they were unaware of the tree-cutting exercise.
Carfax city councillor Paul Sargent said: "The trees are irreplaceable and if for some reason the work doesn't go ahead, the natural screening has been removed prem- aturely. From all reports I have heard, I feel Deborah was wrongfully arrested.
"This is a disgrace and a sad day for democracy in Oxford."
The protest took place just 200 yards from where Gabriel Chamberlain is protesting against plans to fell trees in Bonn Square.
Westgate witness Jennie Bailey said: "This was all a bit mad - especially seeing as she is a councillor.
"I was horrified with the way the police were handling her - she was being treated in a rough way."
City council spokesman Chris Lee added: "These trees are being removed as part of the preparation for the Westgate redevelopment.
"The Westgate development will provide a welcome boost to the range of shopping facilities in Oxford.
"As one small part of this major improvement, the Westgate Partnership considers it is essential to remove these trees."
A police spokesman said: "We don't feel it is suitable to comment at this time."
Your Say YourOxford
Chop Chop, Oxford says...
8:55pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Excuse me but this IS democracy. The LibDems are in charge in Oxford and people voted them in, end of.
Ok, so it's a pity that by May (when we get the chance to vote again) the tree protesters will have had enough and the chainsaws will have done their job, but that's life in a democracy.
DanOxford, Oxford says...
9:14pm Wed 9 Jan 08
I'm afraid it's typical of the minority interest Left that when they don't get their own way they throw their toys out of the pram and suddeny start causing a bl**dy nuisance on 'our' behalf. I'm a tax- paying, voting grown up and don't need to be represented by a hysterical woman or a jobless attention seeker.
Bert, says...
9:21pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Sara Thornton should keep them on a tighter leash.
George Peppard, says...
9:36pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Tarbatt, says...
9:45pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Martin, Bicester says...
10:10pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Consistency, Oxford says...
10:22pm Wed 9 Jan 08
DanOxford, Oxford says...
10:25pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Tarbatt wrote:Think for themselves?!! If I was an unemployed dosser able to sit in a tree all day I'm sure I'd come up with a better plan than obstructing the Council ADDING 3 trees to Bonn Square.
DanOxford - why don\'t you move to Burnley or Dagenham? I think you\'d be happier there. Oxford is a place for people who can think for themselves - not toadying little creeps like you.
You sound typical of the 'it's been done officially so it must be some bourgeois capitalist Big Brother plot!' self- appinted 'spekespeople' I object to so much- making my HOME CITY look so ridiculous.
Cllr Ken Tiwari, Oxford says...
11:26pm Wed 9 Jan 08
I planted a frenchcher
cherry tree in myfront
garden 1/4 centry ago,
but my other nine tree
i had to cut them down
because my neighbour,
you must satisfy other
I wonder who we were,
satisfying in Bone Sqr
and please remeber the
High street Oxford it
costed hundreds pounds
tax payers money, to
erect poll to keep old
dying tree alive? How
far you think we must
go with this tree lark
tree wise i mean,Ken T
quote
alan page, says...
11:40pm Wed 9 Jan 08
DanOxford wrote:But all the participants in this charade ARE bourgeois.
Tarbatt wrote: DanOxford - why don\'t you move to Burnley or Dagenham? I think you\'d be happier there. Oxford is a place for people who can think for themselves - not toadying little creeps like you.Think for themselves?!! If I was an unemployed dosser able to sit in a tree all day I'm sure I'd come up with a better plan than obstructing the Council ADDING 3 trees to Bonn Square. You sound typical of the 'it's been done officially so it must be some bourgeois capitalist Big Brother plot!' self- appinted 'spekespeople' I object to so much- making my HOME CITY look so ridiculous.
They aren able to afford time off work to pull these sorts of stunts.
Anybody from the lower end of the social scale would either find his wages being docked or would be dismissed.
Besides only the bourgeois consider the life of a tree THAT important anyway.
alan page, says...
11:43pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Over a tree? Typical!!
New song to be sung:
"Yes, we have no tree martyrs, we have no tree martyrs today."
alan page, says...
11:45pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Cllr Ken Tiwari wrote:D o y o u s p e a k E n g l i s h? I a s k b e c a u s e y o u c a n n o t w r i t e p r o p e l y . A c l l r w h o c a n n o t w r i t e i s i n m y b o o k n o t wo r t h y t o s t a n d f o r o f f i c e.
I love tree's, I planted a frenchcher cherry tree in myfront garden 1/4 centry ago, but my other nine tree i had to cut them down because my neighbour, you must satisfy other I wonder who we were, satisfying in Bone Sqr and please remeber the High street Oxford it costed hundreds pounds tax payers money, to erect poll to keep old dying tree alive? How far you think we must go with this tree lark tree wise i mean,Ken Tquote
P l e a s e t r y h a r d e r.
Tweeky, says...
11:48pm Wed 9 Jan 08
alan page, says...
11:49pm Wed 9 Jan 08
Consistency wrote:Oh, she wants us all to be like her does she?
Ummm, I'm fairly sure that Deborah Glass-Woodin *won't* be shopping at the Westgate centre. You might disagree with her, but she lives her life as she would like other people to do....
Sorry to dissapoint but I would never want to imitate her example especially in cases like this.
And this is the crux of bunnyhuggers incorporated, they believe that if the whole world was to be painted green overnight everybody would be so much nicer.
Sorry but the world doesnt operate like that. In the real world Thomas Hobbes is probably closer to the truth concerning human nature than John Locke.
The real alan page, says...
11:52pm Wed 9 Jan 08
alan page wrote:Ken, ignore this tosser.
Cllr Ken Tiwari wrote: I love tree's, I planted a frenchcher cherry tree in myfront garden 1/4 centry ago, but my other nine tree i had to cut them down because my neighbour, you must satisfy other I wonder who we were, satisfying in Bone Sqr and please remeber the High street Oxford it costed hundreds pounds tax payers money, to erect poll to keep old dying tree alive? How far you think we must go with this tree lark tree wise i mean,Ken TD o y o u s p e a k E n g l i s h? I a s k b e c a u s e y o u c a n n o t w r i t e p r o p e l y . A c l l r w h o c a n n o t w r i t e i s i n m y b o o k n o t wo r t h y t o s t a n d f o r o f f i c e. P l e a s e t r y h a r d e r.quote
The real alan page, says...
12:05am Thu 10 Jan 08
alan page wrote:Dan ingnore this tosser.
DanOxford wrote:But all the participants in this charade ARE bourgeois. They aren able to afford time off work to pull these sorts of stunts. Anybody from the lower end of the social scale would either find his wages being docked or would be dismissed. Besides only the bourgeois consider the life of a tree THAT important anyway.Tarbatt wrote: DanOxford - why don\'t you move to Burnley or Dagenham? I think you\'d be happier there. Oxford is a place for people who can think for themselves - not toadying little creeps like you.Think for themselves?!! If I was an unemployed dosser able to sit in a tree all day I'm sure I'd come up with a better plan than obstructing the Council ADDING 3 trees to Bonn Square. You sound typical of the 'it's been done officially so it must be some bourgeois capitalist Big Brother plot!' self- appinted 'spekespeople' I object to so much- making my HOME CITY look so ridiculous.
alan page, says...
12:22am Thu 10 Jan 08
The real alan page, says...
12:25am Thu 10 Jan 08
alan page, says...
12:26am Thu 10 Jan 08
The real alan page, says...
12:29am Thu 10 Jan 08
The real alan page wrote:Whoever you are why resort to insults?
People please ignore this tosser.
alan's mummy, says...
12:32am Thu 10 Jan 08
alan page, says...
2:44am Thu 10 Jan 08
Bert, says...
2:55am Thu 10 Jan 08
If you find this environment is constantly provoking you into your venemous irational outbursts, perhaps it would it best for you to find another website where you do not constantly feel provoked.
Failing this, you should seriously consider seeking help from a trained mental health professional.
I hope this helps.
alan page, says...
3:16am Thu 10 Jan 08
Bert wrote:Ta muchly. I'm sure you feel a lot better for that.
Alan Page. Before you erupt into your tirades of verbal vitriol, please pause and contemplate on the effect your vile inappropriate behaviour has on the majority of decent contributors to these comment pages. It is one thing to show a sense of humour and participate in good natured banter, but you spew forth your hatred and vitriol to all who hold oposing views to yours. If you find this environment is constantly provoking you into your venemous irational outbursts, perhaps it would it best for you to find another website where you do not constantly feel provoked. Failing this, you should seriously consider seeking help from a trained mental health professional. I hope this helps.
The problem with "decent" contributors is that they do not like having their naive assumptions exposed for the shallow self interested dross that they are.
Somebody has to provide an alternative voice to all the empty posturing that passes for debate.
This enviroment provides me with masses of enjoyment. Largely at seeing a supposedly educational paradise exposing itself as a haven for narrow minded ill informed bigotry masquerading as factual comment.
The purpose of democracy is to allow for differences of opinions.Your suggestion that because I don't follow the same empty modes of thought and behaviour as you do means that I am mentally ill is pure Stalinism.
You can always judge the enlightenment of a country by the way it treats its dissidents.
So my dear little Tory, I am not going to stop commenting as I am exercising my democratic rights.
The fact that you and some others CHOOSE to be offended by my comments does not render them invalid. Rather it validates them!!
I do hope this helps old boy.
Chris, says...
3:20am Thu 10 Jan 08
I wish he would stick to a certain other web site he frequents, but perhaps its best not to mention that one on a family web site.
By the way, I think I know you. Do you have a vintage car?
Bert, says...
3:32am Thu 10 Jan 08
Cat, says...
4:39am Thu 10 Jan 08
Bert wrote:Thank you Bert for expressing what the majority of the sane people on here are all thinking. I for one congratulate and agree with you..
Alan Page. Before you erupt into your tirades of verbal vitriol, please pause and contemplate on the effect your vile inappropriate behaviour has on the majority of decent contributors to these comment pages. It is one thing to show a sense of humour and participate in good natured banter, but you spew forth your hatred and vitriol to all who hold oposing views to yours. If you find this environment is constantly provoking you into your venemous irational outbursts, perhaps it would it best for you to find another website where you do not constantly feel provoked. Failing this, you should seriously consider seeking help from a trained mental health professional. I hope this helps.
Alan Page don't reply and call me a bourgeois bunny hugging uneducated drug taker blah blah blah I am simply not intrested...
Jane, says...
8:04am Thu 10 Jan 08
Janet, Wytham,Oxford says...
8:30am Thu 10 Jan 08
Bert wrote:Well said Bert. i am another one who is absolutely sick of hearing this sad pompous little man repeating the same garbage every day.
Alan Page. Before you erupt into your tirades of verbal vitriol, please pause and contemplate on the effect your vile inappropriate behaviour has on the majority of decent contributors to these comment pages. It is one thing to show a sense of humour and participate in good natured banter, but you spew forth your hatred and vitriol to all who hold oposing views to yours. If you find this environment is constantly provoking you into your venemous irational outbursts, perhaps it would it best for you to find another website where you do not constantly feel provoked. Failing this, you should seriously consider seeking help from a trained mental health professional. I hope this helps.
Edward, says...
8:52am Thu 10 Jan 08
People with narcissistic personality disorder have difficulty recognizing the needs and feelings of others, and are dismissive, contemptuous and impatient when others share or discuss their concerns or problems. They are also oblivious to the hurtfulness of their behaviour or remarks, show an emotional coldness and a lack of reciprocal interest, exhibit envy (especially when others are accorded recognition), have an arrogant, disdainful and patronizing attitude, and are quick to blame and criticise others when their needs and expectations are not met.The serial bully displays behaviour congruent with many of the diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Characterised by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity and self-importance, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, people with narcissistic personality disorder overestimate their abilities and inflate their accomplishments, often appearing boastful and pretentious, whilst correspondingly underestimating and devaluing the achievements and accomplishments of others.
francis, oxford says...
8:56am Thu 10 Jan 08
Francis Blackman
CEO
The Alan Page Foundation Global Inc.
Nurse Tess, Padded cell says...
9:14am Thu 10 Jan 08
Perhaps we could start a collection to raise the money so he could receive private treatment.
Perhaps the organisation that Francis runs could be a vehicle for this.
Alan Page Sponsor, Oxford says...
10:02am Thu 10 Jan 08
francis wrote:LMAO!!!
Thank you Edward, you sound very educated - very educated indeed. We kneel. Francis Blackman CEO The Alan Page Foundation Global Inc.
People! Get over yourselves - if it bothers you that much - stop replying to comments!
And stop trying to write as intelligently as you can so people think you are 'of the higher class, rar rar rar' - you just sound like tw@s!!!!
Make your point and be done with it!!!
alan page, says...
10:22am Thu 10 Jan 08
Jane wrote:No, it is highly entertaining.
It must be humiliating for Page to be the object of such ridicule.
It shows the lack of maturity, abscence of intellect and infantility that only people who get hysterical over trees and bunnys are capable of.
The last time I got that upset over a tree being felled I was 6.
This woman is a councillour for christ's sake!!!
alan page, says...
10:35am Thu 10 Jan 08
Edward wrote:What acheivements exactly?
I feel this describes this unfortunate mans illness rather well. People with narcissistic personality disorder have difficulty recognizing the needs and feelings of others, and are dismissive, contemptuous and impatient when others share or discuss their concerns or problems. They are also oblivious to the hurtfulness of their behaviour or remarks, show an emotional coldness and a lack of reciprocal interest, exhibit envy (especially when others are accorded recognition), have an arrogant, disdainful and patronizing attitude, and are quick to blame and criticise others when their needs and expectations are not met.The serial bully displays behaviour congruent with many of the diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Characterised by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity and self-importance, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, people with narcissistic personality disorder overestimate their abilities and inflate their accomplishments, often appearing boastful and pretentious, whilst correspondingly underestimating and devaluing the achievements and accomplishments of others.
Making some futile gesture?
Making an **** of yourself in public for the sake of some tree?
If you are stupid and naive enough to believe that the future of mankind depends on some trees being felled in Oxford then you must using some very heavy drugs!!!
What we actually have is a glorified village green preservation society masquerading as a "radical" political
party.
They are Tories at heart, trying to maintain the status quo whilst pretending they want to change it.
I got exactly the same response when I took on the Evangelicals in the 80's. Same kinds of abuse.
Please keep it up, I am glad you consider me such a threat that you need to put this bilious reactionary ad hominen drivel about me.
It is you who is making me important, I am merely stating opinions.
Terry Hutchinson, 124-173 says...
10:42am Thu 10 Jan 08
Tarbatt wrote:Oh dear Dan you're right. More toys out of the Tarbatt pram
DanOxford - why don\'t you move to Burnley or Dagenham? I think you\'d be happier there. Oxford is a place for people who can think for themselves - not toadying little creeps like you.
alan page, says...
10:43am Thu 10 Jan 08
Chris wrote:What other website is that? Do name it?
Thank you Bert for voicing what a lot of us have been feeling for a long time. I wish he would stick to a certain other web site he frequents, but perhaps its best not to mention that one on a family web site. By the way, I think I know you. Do you have a vintage car?
How do you know its me?
Could it be the Edward Carpenter foundation?
Or perhaps you've seen my contributions to the badly written Wikipedia article on Schopenhauer?
Youtube and Amazon?
Please do elaborate, I'm dying to know.
Vintage Cars? How very twee, lots of jam and freshly cut sandwiches and lashings of ginger beer as well no doubt.
Enid Blyton, now there's a writer.
Alans Mummy, says...
10:55am Thu 10 Jan 08
After what he tried to his pet cat, all the family pets in the neighborhood avoided him.(This explains his hatred of animals) The poor cat is still having therapy, and still walks a bit funny.
If it wasn't for you nice people he would have no one to talk to. Please be kind to this tortured creature.
Jane, says...
11:12am Thu 10 Jan 08
mummy, Iffley Rd says...
11:20am Thu 10 Jan 08
(am using his computer, can't understand why the keyboard is so sticky)
Naughty man, Oxford says...
11:34am Thu 10 Jan 08
James, Oxford says...
11:52am Thu 10 Jan 08
Bert wrote:Speaking out against the police can be a dangerous occupation.
Are the police out of control. Are they now a law unto themselves? Perhaps Chief Constable Sara Thornton should keep them on a tighter leash.
Its best not to criticise them publicly.
Mike, Oxford says...
11:59am Thu 10 Jan 08
Its best not to criticise them publicly..."
Absolutely ridiculous - they're not the bloody SS you know!!!
And criticising them publicy IS a good idea - name anything that has ever been accomplished by keeping it to yourself?!?!
Roger, Oxford says...
12:20pm Thu 10 Jan 08
The real alan page wrote:"Cllr Ken Tiwari" has commented on this website before, and it is always difficult to understand what he means. He is not listed as a councillor on either Oxford City Council or Oxfordshire County Council, so it would be interesting to know more about him.
alan page wrote:Ken, ignore this tosser.
Cllr Ken Tiwari wrote: I love tree\'s, I planted a frenchcher cherry tree in myfront garden 1/4 centry ago, but my other nine tree i had to cut them down because my neighbour, you must satisfy other I wonder who we were, satisfying in Bone Sqr and please remeber the High street Oxford it costed hundreds pounds tax payers money, to erect poll to keep old dying tree alive? How far you think we must go with this tree lark tree wise i mean,Ken TD o y o u s p e a k E n g l i s h? I a s k b e c a u s e y o u c a n n o t w r i t e p r o p e l y . A c l l r w h o c a n n o t w r i t e i s i n m y b o o k n o t wo r t h y t o s t a n d f o r o f f i c e. P l e a s e t r y h a r d e r.quote
cajunsr., tampa, florida says...
1:09pm Thu 10 Jan 08
amities et a bientot,
cajunsr.
a lover of trees and the cypress swamps.
Roger, Oxford says...
1:38pm Thu 10 Jan 08
cajunsr. wrote:They are demolishing an existing multi-story carpark, actually, to make way for an extension to the shopping centre (what you would call a shopping mall).
from what i know about the lib-dems who control your local gov't., are they not the 'recyle' fanatics? then why on mother earth would they condemn nature's most proficient recycler of oxygen for a **** parking garage for the biggest pollution machines of all? food for thought. and where is your democracy? i hope it is not going the way of g.w. bush. :(
amities et a bientot,
cajunsr.
a lover of trees and the cypress swamps.
Nonetheless, your arguments for preserving the trees are sound, and they screen the carpark, which might not get demolished after all,depending on the outcome of the democratically necessary consultation procedures.
Thank you for your interest from so far away .
francis, inpatient unit says...
1:51pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Nurse Tess wrote:The Committee (composed of Alan, Alan, Alan, Alan and Alan - chaired by Alan) has investigated this possibility in depth, and at length, and its conclusion was that the very suggestion of private treatment for Alan smacks of (and I quote from the minutes): "capitalist-neo-nazi
It is a shame that funding for mental heath services have been cut back so much. Perhaps we could start a collection to raise the money so he could receive private treatment. Perhaps the organisation that Francis runs could be a vehicle for this.
-****-bourgeois-runn
ing-dog-toadyism". The conclusion was that although public mental health resources may be at an all-time low, they will certainly be good enough for Alan. It's a matter of principle.
Donations will however be gratefully accepted; these will help to fund our "New leatherette reclining executive chair for Alan when he chairs the Committee" fund-raising drive.
Thank you all for your generosity.
Francis, for the Alan Page Foundation trading as Galactic Domination Inc. Our motto: "Today Oxford, tomorrow - Alan."
Alan Page, oxford says...
2:05pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Stop posing as CEO, Francis, and get back to the kitchens.
I can only reiterate that this enviroment provides me with masses of enjoyment. Largely at seeing a supposedly educational paradise exposing itself as a haven for narrow minded ill informed bigotry masquerading as factual comment.
Furthermore, the purpose of democracy is to allow for differences of opinions.Your suggestion that because I don't follow the same empty modes of thought and behaviour as you do means that I am mentally ill is pure Stalinism.
Call me an old fogey if you like, but I still say that you can always judge the enlightenment of a country by the way it treats its dissidents!
Alan Page, Oxford says...
2:08pm Thu 10 Jan 08
I am in doubt as to the veracity of your repeated claims to be Alan.
Are you the real Alan, or were you cloned from Alan's stem-cells in a highly-secret government laboratory?
We demand proof, Alan!
Alan Page, Oxford says...
2:09pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Alan, Oxford says...
2:10pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Alan
alan page, Glasgow says...
2:33pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Ah never mind there's more important things to worry about. Like trees and ickle wickle bunnywabbits.
alan page, says...
2:37pm Thu 10 Jan 08
I am actually younger than this councillour.
So if I am a fogey then heaven knows what that makes her.
alice, oxford says...
3:11pm Thu 10 Jan 08
!!! IT DOESNT REALLY SAY ALOT FOR THAMES VALLEY POLICE DOES IT WHEN THEY ARE LETTING THERE PCSO'S ARREST PEOPLE...HAVE A WORD!!!
Mr craft, chalgrove says...
3:14pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Macbeth, Stalag Oxford says...
3:53pm Thu 10 Jan 08
Ye shall have a vast swathe of concrete, steel and glass stretching from Bonn Square down to the ice rink, and lo' - it shall be foul ugly indeed! Forsooth, peasants, this is thy fate! There shall be a controlled consumer environment of such size as ye have ne'er imagined - and ye shall go there, and consume according to the wishes of thy masters..."
And now a message from the LibDems:
"The purpose of democracy is to protect individual choice. As far as the new super-mall with which we are going to cover a large corner of Oxford (on the principle that there are many beautiful buildings in oxford, and we really need a lot more ugly ones), we are protecting your rights to choose as free citizens of Oxford.
You can like it, or you can lump; that's your choice. Make your minds up."
Martin, says...
8:41pm Wed 9 Jan 08
This would explain their behavior.
http://www.oxfordmai
l.net/display.var.14
36614.0.police_stopp
ped_lawful_protest.p
hp