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police have clashed with anti-refugee
protesters in the small town of Llantwit Major where rival
protests are taking place over plans to house asylum seekers in the town. Video footage shows officers restraining hooded and masked protesters who are campaigning against plans by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to build housing for refugees on the site of a former school. There is also a counter protest happening by a a number of anti fascist groups in support of the plans. The plans have caused debate in the coastal town in recent months and Patriotic Alternative, a group associated with the far right, has organised a protest on Saturday against the proposals, one of several demonstrations being held across the
UK recently. But locals and anti-fascist groups from Llantwit and other parts of Wales gathered in the town on Saturday saying the town was "not open to fascists" and that Wales should welcome migrants 12:53 Ryan O'Neill There is some fighting They've kept most pro migrant protestors in the field while the others leave but some have slipped through and there is some fighting. Protestors are right alongside each other walking through one of the estates. Police doing their best to hold their line and keep them apart Share Comments 12:40 Ryan O'Neill Patriotic Alternative pack up their banners Patriotic Alternative protestors appear to have packed up their banners, to a lot of cheering from the other side. But they are still standing around. The line between the two groups remains uncrossed but there are pockets where people are trying before being stopped by officers. Some are wearing masks and chanting at the opposing side. Tensions are still high There are no more than a couple of dozen Patriotic Alternative protestors. Dwarfed by the size of the pro-migrant group by far. Share Comments 12:37 Ryan O'Neill More images from Seaview Park One resident who didn't want to be named is on the anti-fascist side and said: "There are mixed feelings in the town. They've chosen a divisive topic. But we want Llantwit to be a welcoming place for refugees. We don't want fascists here." Share Comments 12:35 Ryan O'Neill Patriotic Action taunts campaigners A speaker from Patriotic Action is stood on a blue crate using a loudspeaker to tell the pro-refugee campaigners that they should be ashamed. Share Comments 12:30 Ryan O'Neill Police form a line between the two groups of protesters Police have formed a line between the two groups of protesters on Seaview Park. (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 12:22 Ryan O'Neill Obscenities shouted We have arrived at Seaview Park, where only a small group of Patriotic Alternative protestors have gathered. The pro-migrant protestors are being separated from them by a long row of police officers. Many are at the edge of the dividing line chanting "Nazi scum off our streets." The PA group are holding signs displaying "Wales is not a refugee camp" and one is speaking over a megaphone. There are no signs of clashes, but the atmosphere is tense. Most of the protestors appear relaxed and peaceful, but some less so. A group on the pro-migrant side writing masks and face coverings are shouting obscenities at the opposing group, and there are loud boos ringing out. More police appear to be arriving and some protestors are in deep discussions with some officers (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 12:08 Ryan O'Neill Anti-refugee protesters head to Seaview Park The area around the train station is now empty after the earlier trouble invoking anti-refugee protestors. There remain a couple of police cars and a small group of police but the area is otherwise quiet. Traffic is slow in the area where counter-protestors are still making their way to Seaview Park. There is a small police presence and some residents on the estate are standing outside to watch the group go by. (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 11:48 Ryan O'Neill Angry scenes as police clash with anti-refugee protesters Our photographer at the scene has captured footage of police officers clashing with anti-refugee protesters in hoods and masks. The footage shows people in hoods and masks being restrained by police officers. In another clip, amid loud shouting, officers tell protesters to 'get back'. Another clip shows anti-refugee protesters shouting 'there are many, many more of us than you' at police officers as they restrain one person on the ground. Police appear to have handcuffed at least one of the protesters. Here is one of the clips: Share Comments 11:42 Ryan O'Neill Pro refugee protest marches towards the Patriotic Alternative protest Rob Curtis has travelled from Barry for the counter protest. He says opposing refugees in the UK was "wrong." "These groups have called themselves different names over the years. But they are still a fascist organisation if they are preaching hatred and division." Rob is a Green Party member and said he doesn't believe the fascist group's claims that they are concerned about housing and refugees. 'I have campaigned for better housing, health services and education for years. These groups are never there. They say it's about housing but it is
racism." The group has decided to march towards Seaview Park, where they believe the other protest to be. They are walking and chanting "say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" Rob Curtis (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 11:35 Ryan O'Neill 'Hateful groups remain opposed' The protest has stopped on Eagleswell Road and one is speaking on a megaphone. "We will welcome those refugees who are coming here. Whatever we do, we do it together." He adds that hateful groups "remain opposed" in the town. The protest on Eagleswell Road (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 11:34 Ryan O'Neill 'Refugees are welcome' Hellana Hatfield, a
Human Rights activist who runs an NGO for asylum seekers, has travelled from Pembrokeshire today. "We are here to deliver the message that refugees are welcome here in Wales and that fascists are not welcome. They have caused trouble elsewhere. Wherever they go, we will go. "The problem is getting worse with them stirring up hatred and division. At the end of the day we all come into this world naked and alone, and we leave naked and alone. It doesn't matter what country you are from, what religion or sex you are. We are all people. If we can unite together, that is the best thing we can do." Hellana Hatfield (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 11:27 Ryan O'Neill Shouting between rival groups There had been some shouting earlier between some counter protestors and suspected fascist protestors, but that appears to have cooled down. There was some derogatory language directed by a driver to the anti-fascist protestors on Llanmaes Road, which brought some chuckles, but otherwise it seems peaceful. The Patriotic Alternative protest is taking place separately, reportedly near the Llantwit Major train station. Share Comments 11:22 Ryan O'Neill 'Refugees welcome, stop the far right' Around 200 protestors are walking down Easgleswell Road, near where the planned housing will be, chanting and playing
music including 'Power to the People.' People are holding flags and banners including 'refugees welcome: stop the far right', 'haters not welcome' and expressing support for migrants in Wales. Share Comments 11:20 Ryan O'Neill 'Tension in the town' One local protestor Ben, who didn't want to give his surname, said "there is tension" in the town since the plans were revealed. "It was a shock to see groups like this mobilising around a local issue," he said, adding that Llantwit Major had always been an "easy going place." He said it was a shock to see groups like Patriotic Alternative "exploit the fissures and divisions to push their agenda. "It felt important to me that we stand up. Because if we don't stand up, you are giving them carte blanche to push their agenda." The anti-fascist protest in Llantwit Major (Image: Ryan O'Neill) The anti-fascist protest in Llantwit Major (Image: Ryan O'Neill) Share Comments 11:18 Ryan O'Neill The cause of the controversy Plans to house refugees on the site of a former school are the cause of the divisions in Llantwit Major. A number of residents in Llantwit Major were sent a letter by the Vale of Glamorgan Council in December informing them that the site of the former Eagleswell Primary School will become a temporary home for 90 accommodation units for people fleeing the war in
Ukraine. Work on the site, which will be made up of single bedroom and four bedroom family units, began last month. A number of residents have hit out at the council over what they see as a lack of consultation over the plans and concerns that an influx of new residents could put increased pressure on local services. An artist's impression of proposed accommodation units for Llantwit Major (Image: Spring Design ) The council has used its permitted Development Rights to commence work on the scheme (Image: Spring Design ) The site of the former Eagleswell Primary School in Llantwit Major will become a temporary home for Ukrainian refugees (Image:
Google Maps ) Share Comments