Over the weekend protestors gathered outside the Church of Scientology’s UK headquarters near East Grinstead with a message, “the abuse must stop.”
The demonstration took place outside the annual gathering of Scientology’s membership organisation, the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) – an event frequently attended by celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Nancy Cartwright and Jenna Elfman.
Marching through East Grinstead and led by a bagpiper, the protestors arrived at the gates of the former home of L. Ron Hubbard, Saint Hill Manor on Friday afternoon ahead of Scientologists who flocked from across Europe to hear reclusive leader David Miscavige speak. They returned the following day, gaining international media attention after spotting Tom Cruise leaving the property via helicopter before the Charity Concert on Sunday evening.
Sussex Police, who monitored the demonstration across all three days, reported no incidents of hate speech, harassment or anti-social behaviour and concluded the protest was “peaceful” and “well organised”.
Last year, Scientology asked Mid-Sussex District Council to implement a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) outside their property – effectively banning demonstrations. After a careful review process, it was decided that there was insufficient evidence to suggest protests were the source of any disruption and Council leader Robert Eggleston concluded the majority of problems Scientology were complaining about, like congestion and pedestrians walking in the road, were in fact a result of the event itself.
Despite failing in their bid to ban protesting, Scientology continued with attempts to disrupt protestors this year, placing hoarding along the public footpath that borders their property and planting a hedge opposite their entrance in order to restrict areas available for people to congregate. The church also placed planters along the pavement, blocking the public right of way. As a result local residents and dog walkers were forced to walk in the road. West Sussex Highways ordered the illegal obstructions to be removed before protestors arrived, but this was subsequently ignored leaving them no option but to implement an emergency Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) which reduced the speed limit along Saint Hill Road from 60mph to 40mph for the duration of the weekend.
Posting on social media on Friday, local County Councillor Jacquie Russell explained “A site visit was undertaken by Highways this morning and unfortunately they found that the Hoarding hadn’t been erected in line with the consent given to the Church and that the Church had placed obstructions (planters) on the highway which altogether leaves nowhere for anyone to seek refuge/stand etc. Highways asked them to remove the planters and amend the hoarding whilst on site but they refused thus Highways have formally written to them to ask them to make the necessary amendments otherwise they are in breach of the agreement.”
Responding to comments asking whether the emergency order was in response to protestors standing in the road, she confirmed “The protesters were not the issue as always and the livestream footage evidences this clearly. The issue was the main entrance being used as an exit causing confusion and mayhem as coaches and HGVs struggled to exit and some attendees didn’t realise they needed to enter opposite Rockwood Park further back. This meant they had to drive down and turn around at Saint Hill Green come back up.”
The traffic restrictions are the latest in a string of recent enforcement action taken by the local authorities against the Church. Last weekend’s event took place in a mammoth 45,000 square foot marquee which had been erected on their property without planning permission. Councillor Russel explained: “The marquee is currently unlawful. it breaches permitted development rules but the Church argue otherwise. Those discussions are ongoing. Disappointing to see the current Vice Chair of District Planning attend regardless like he always does.”
Last year, Scientology were issued a Planning Contravention Notice for the structure. The Church have also covered a 7-acre field on their property with plastic panels, turning it into a car park despite Mid-Sussex District Council still reviewing an application submitted for the development. The ‘Juhring field’ is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and is immediately adjacent to protected ancient woodland. It is understood officers are currently reviewing the situation and deciding on whether to take enforcement action.
Despite the flagrant breaches in planning laws the vice chairman of Mid-Sussex District Council, Dick Sweatman, was spotted driving onto the property to attend the chaotic event on Friday evening. The elected official is frequently seen at Scientology events and is featured in a number of promotional videos discussing the “close relationship” he and the Council have with the controversial Church.
Protest organiser and Scientology Business Editor Alexander Barnes-Ross explained “On Friday, we saw Councillor Dick Sweatman – who is the Vice Chair of the Planning Committee and on Sunday we saw Councillor Tony Scott attending the event. It’s absolutely disgusting and I can’t see how they think it’s appropriate to attend this event, which is taking place in an illegal structure, given the complaints locals have raised about the disruption the whole affair creates. It’s shameful and corrupt.”
“They’d clearly rather get their photo with Tom Cruise than to listen to local residents – which is what they’re elected to do.”
Locals living in East Grinstead were up in arms at the disruption the weekend’s event caused to their community, with one angry resident telling The Sun newspaper “It’s like the circus coming to town when it’s the Patrons Ball. It’s an endless stream of people and so much noise — the infrastructure isn’t built for it so it ends up being chaos.
“Then you’ve got Tom flying over in his chopper and it causes a right old racket.”
“To top things off, a minibus packed with Scientologists ended up having an accident with another driver, which meant one of the roads ended up being closed.”
