Spanish protesters to end their camp in Brighton

The Spanish protesters camped at the Old Steine in Brighton have promised to leave on Sunday (12 June).

They set up camp on Saturday 21 May in sympathy with protesters – mostly students and young people without jobs – in Madrid.

There are currently more than a dozen tents on the site in Brighton and their presence has been criticised by Simon Kirby, the Conservative MP for Brighton Kemptown, and Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, leader of the opposition Tory group on Brighton and Hove City Council.

Mr Kirby wrote to the Green-led council and to Sussex Police urging them to enforce bylaws prohibiting camping in public parks and open spaces.

And Councillor Theobald criticised Green cabinet member Ben Duncan for tolerating the protest camp. Councillor Duncan is the cabinet member responsible for policing and community safety.

Councillor Duncan said: “We respect the right to peaceful protest and will facilitate it were possible but we will take action where necessary to fulfil our duties as a council and these include ensuring public parks are protected for the whole community.

“The right to peaceful protest does not include the right to camp in public parks and we will uphold local bylaws to prevent this.

“We have accommodated the protesters’ protest and allowed them to make their point and they have behaved well so far and we expect them to leave this Sunday.

“It’s good news that they have promised to move on and I expect them to fulfil that promise.”

The protesters called off a march through Brighton and Hove last weekend after a counter-demonstration was planned, although it did not take place either.

But the Spanish protesters did hold a 100-strong march on Sunday 22 May which passed off peacefully, without holding up traffic and which Sussex Police did not need to steward.