Reclaim Rosslyn Road was founded in 2014 as a direct result of the "protestors" outside the Rosslyn Road clinic and the daily harrassment of clients, staff and residents local to the clinic.
The protest is obtrusive, disrespectful and unremitting. The protesters harass women entering the clinic, hold noisy prayer vigils and make unauthorised use of the facilities at the doctors' surgery. Local people who have nothing to do with BPAS are being affected, in one case a protester followed a resident home after an altercation. Mothers taking their children to the nursery at ETNA are finding alternative routes to avoid the protesters. Receptionists at the doctors' surgery were in one case so incensed by the upset caused to a patient with a history of pregnancy problems that they were involved in a full-blown row with the protesters and the police were called.
A petition was undertaken in 2014, signed by 390 people and presented to the Council. Although supportive, the Council were unable to take any action - since that time, legislation for Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) has come into force giving the Council an alternative means to end the protests.
A second petition ran in 2018 and recieved 333 signatures which can been seen here.
*** 16 Oct '18 UPDATE ***
We are delighted to announce that the we will be proceeding with a consultation for a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) for the area surrounding the BPAS clinic. The Council's Regulatory Committee voted unanimously in favour of the consultation.
We don't have the details yet, but we are expecting it to launch before Christmas and we will update here and via our mailing list as soon as we know.
*** 15 Mar '18 UPDATE ***
We have had a follow up meeting with Cabinet Member Mark Boyle and the three Twickenham Riverside Ward Councillors. They have been working with solicitors and other members of staff to gather all required information with a view to proposing a consultation for a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). We were impressed with the progress they have managed to make since the Jan council meeting and we left with the feeling they are all genuinely working towards a legal solution.
Unfortunately, we have been put on hold now pending the local council elections in May. The next Regulatory Committee meeting is scheduled for July, where the proposal for a consultation will need to be presented and agreed on.
The good news is that we have secured cross-party support for the proposal so we should be able to pick up again after the elections regardless of which party is leading the Council.
*** 23 Jan '18 UPDATE ***
Following a campaign in Ealing, the group SisterSupporter successfully secured the first Council Motion to investigate the use of Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) as a legislative tool to create a "buffer zone" around the Marie Stopes Clinic on Mattock Lane.
Several Councils around the country have now voted to explore all legal options, including PSPOs, to prevent protestors from harrassing women at clinic gates.
At the January 23rd 2018 LBRuT* Council Meeting, Cllr Mark Boyles gave his "absolute commitment" to doing everything possible to create a Buffer Zone for the Rosslyn Road Clinic.