We have been advised that this year, the Church of Scientology have been issued a Hoarding Licence for the western side of Saint Hill Road, to the south of their property and a new Planting Licence for the eastern side of the road.

This means as protestors we will face significant challenges this year to our protected rights to free assembly on public land.

The map below indicates where the licence for hoarding has been granted, meaning Scientology will be allowed to place heras fencing along the edge of the public footway where we have stood in the past, under the guise of “protecting pedestrians.”

West Sussex Highways issued this licence without prior consultation with the protestors, and it is our position that this hoarding poses a significant risk to the safety of passersby, event attendees and protestors.

The licence is in place from 3rd October – 31st October, meaning it must be removed for the Saturday and Sunday events on 1st and 2nd November.

In addition to the hoarding licence, despite Scientology being ordered to remove concealed fencing and an illegal hedgerow on the opposite side of the road, West Sussex Highways have also granted a Planting Licence that would allow them to place a pre-approved species of hedge along the eastern side of the road, so long as it is a certain distance from the highway.

Theoretically, this should allow us space to stand on that side of the road without disrupting traffic or standing in the road, however based on Scientology’s track record of refusing to abide by the rules set by local government, we fully expect this hedge to be deliberately placed too close to the highway, as a means to obstruct protestors, in breach of the Planting Licence conditions.

We are strongly opposed to West Sussex Highways’ decision to grant both of these licences in time for this event without consulting any protestors and in doing so, the Highways department have agreed to create an even more hazardous, dangerous environment for users of the highway.

Although stipulations require Scientology not to block the public right of way or access to the verge designated a “refuge”, the policies they follow clearly dictate that protestors must be stopped by any means possible. And LRH policy trumps local government policy, in their belief system.

Scientology ignored the Planning Contravention Notice issued in 2024; Scientology refused to remove the hedge on the highway and admitted it had only been planted in order to obstruct protestors; Scientology ignored requests from Highways not to place planters and metal barriers blocking the grass verge at the 2023 and 2024 protests; Scientology claimed “religious discrimination” when asked to remove a concealed fence it had placed on public land without permission.

What makes the Council think they will start playing by the rules now?

The map below is taken from a previous planning application submitted by the Church of Scientology, available via the Mid-Sussex District Council planning portal. It clearly shows the property boundary line, in relation to Saint Hill Road and the entrance to the car park.

Although Scientology have been given permission to erect hoarding and plant a bush, they have not been given permission to obstruct any public rights of way or to prevent access to public land.

As protestors, safety is our number one priority and we are liaising with Sussex Police and the local authority to ensure our demonstration goes ahead without putting people in any sort of danger or unnecessary risk. Our message this year is ‘we come back’, and as always, we will do so with kindness and compassion.