Environmental campaigner dies in fire at Scottish road protest camp

Man killed and woman hurt in fire at Bilston Glen anti-bypass camp south of Edinburgh

Forensics officers were investigating after an environmental campaigner was killed in a fire at a protest camp south of Edinburgh.

It is feared the man, thought to be in his 20s, burned to death after his bedding or the hut at Bilston Glen, Midlothian, caught fire. It is understood his death is not being treated as suspicious.

The body was shielded behind a white tarpaulin and a police cordon, as police and fire investigators inspected the site and searched surrounding woodland.

A woman who was injured in the fire was taken to a nearby hospital and then to St John's hospital, Livingston, which has a specialist burns unit. She is thought to have burns to her hands and arms.

Lothian and Borders police said the dead man would not be named until next of kin had been told. Others at the protest camp refused to give his name or discuss what had happened.

The camp, comprising at least 10 hand-built wooden huts, treehouses and tents, has been at the woodland site since 2002, in protest at plans new shelved to build a bypass alongside the A701 close to Loanhead and Roslin.

In a short statement, the protesters said: "The people of Bilston Road protest site regret the loss of one of their friends, who has been a valued member of our community, and extend our deepest sorrow to his family and friends, who we would like to get in touch with as we have no way of contacting them. We would ask everyone to respect our grief."

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders fire and rescue service said the cause of the fire and the fatality was being investigated, but it appeared to have been an accident.

"The scene itself is quite badly fire damaged," she said. "There's no electricity, they have camp fires and candles and paraffin lamps.

"Living in these kind of self-constructed homes with blankets and loads of leaves and branches ... it's perfectly conceivable that some k! ind of f lame, whether used for heating or light, started it."

Police said: "A man, believed to be in his 20s, has died following a fire at a campsite at Bilston Glen in Midlothian.

"A woman is being treated in hospital at Livingston for injuries she suffered in the fire, which police were alerted to around 3.30am. Police, fire service and ambulance attended at the campsite, which belongs to environmental activists."

The bypass would have cut through Bilston Glen, a site of special scientific interest and popular walking area for local families. The scheme has been effectively dormant since 2005 Midlothian council has instead unveiled plans to rebuild existing junctions and add bus lanes.


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