It was about 4am on Monday, under the cover of darkness, when protesters camping at their town’s 1950s bus shelter were woken by the arrival of bailiffs. Days earlier, the council had served an eviction notice to those fighting to save the shelter, claiming their occupation was illegal.
This marked the latest escalation following a week-long sit-in at the Sheringham bus shelter on Station Approach near the heritage railway station, after Norfolk county council said it would demolish and replace the site due to accessibility and safety concerns.
A campaign by local people has been calling for the preservation of their “beloved” bus shelter, arguing it is an important part of Sheringham’s heritage.
Liz Withington, a councillor for the smaller North Norfolk district, was alerted to the arrival of bailiffs on Monday after receiving messages from campaigners at the shelter.
“I was called and I got there within 10 minutes but initially there were three people sort of dozing and one was well asleep [when the officials] came in,” Withington said. “[They] came in and just told them that they’ve ‘got to get out’ and started being quite intimidatory.”
A standoff between campaigners and the enforcement officials ensued, with protesters successfully manoeuvring past two security guards into the shelter, Withington said. The officials eventually left the vicinity, but spent the morning watching campaigners from their car across the street.
“Enforcement officers [were] sitting very intimidatingly across the road from us, so we can’t leave the shelter or even go to the loo,” Withington said.
The local Liberal Democrat MP, Steff Aquarone, expressed concerns that their behaviour was “intimidating” and alerted Norfolk constabulary. The force confirmed this was the case.
The MP and about 20 campaigners have questioned the legality of the demolition and the eviction notice, arguing the shelter is owned by Sheringham town council. A meeting is due to take place to discuss the future of the shelter.
“I think it’s totally inspiring and I stand shoulder to shoulder with them. This is about more than just a bus shelter,” Aquarone said. “This is about being heard and a local authority that has behaved in not just an arrogant way, but in a bullying way and they have lost the PR battle.”
Protesters have been operating a rota system to ensure the shelter is always occupied. They began their sit-in on 1 December after spotting workmen arriving at the site.
“[Campaigners] were about to have a meeting in the local pub to discuss what they were going to do when they realised the demolition team were arriving,” she said. “So they shot into the bus shelter and then started calling everybody.”
Since then, Withington said the campaign had garnered a lot of support from locals, with several people bringing protesters food and drink.
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“It is quite an iconic building. And there are only, we believe, between four and six left in the country,” she said. “People have met at the bus shelter, people have sat waiting with grandmas and grandads for buses when they were little.”
More than 3,000 people have now signed the petition to stop the demolition. Withington said she believes the council have “disregarded” the views of residents, who are open to a compromise that improves the area but does not demolish the shelter.
“The local voice is not being heard and not being listened to. [The council] wouldn’t come to the table and discuss it or consider any compromise. It’s [their] way or the highway,” she said.
A spokesperson for the county council said the authority “stood bailiffs down at 10am” and that no work would take place on the bus shelter until after a town council meeting on Tuesday.
The spokesperson added: “The land is owned by Sheringham town council but Norfolk county council currently have control and management of all parts of the site during the construction of the scheme, and our legal experts have advised that the eviction notice issued is entirely lawful.”
