Philip Pullman writes once more in the Guardian of the boatyard in Oxford facing destruction. The Castle Mill Boatyard, which partly inspired the Gyptians in His Dark Materials, will be turned into housing if British Waterways has its way. Mr Pullman laments, “the boatyard and all its useful work will be wiped out and “developed” into a cluster of identikit houses and flats that look exactly the same as every other development in the land.” Read more.

Update: It's been reported that those protesters lodged in the boatyard have been forcibly removed today (June 1). The protesters and their canal boats were evicted by bailiffs who brought in a mobile crane to lift seven barges back into the water.

Philip Pullman reacted angrily, accusing British Waterways of treachery and causing widespread illwill: “They are greedy, shifty and dishonest and cannot open their mouths without lying. This eviction is a needless setback.” Read more.