M77 arrests as police move in

Police and security guards went onto the M77 site in force this week to try to remove the band of road protesters trying to block the construction of the œ53 million route by Wimpey.

The move was designed to take the protesters by surprise following a build-up of tension on site over the past few days.

Last week Scottish Office Minister Allan Stewart resigned after a confrontation with protesters on the site and on Friday (10 February) two campaigners were jailed after refusing to accept bail conditions banning them from the site.

Other campaign groups seemed certain to converge on the M77 following the imprisonment of the two, and Wimpey has moved to stop the site becoming a focal point for all the demonstrations.

A Wimpey spokesman confirmed the contractor had moved into the area and that there had been arrests.