A GRANDMOTHER has been arrested again after taking part in civil resistance to bring about the disarmament of Britain's nuclear weapons.
Joan Meredith, 76, was detained last month for blockading the Faslane military base in Scotland where the nuclear- armed Trident submarine is maintained.
Joan, of Brereton Close, Malpas, a member of campaign group 365 Faslane, was among 13 women to be arrested after lying down in front of cars and lorries.
Many had previously been involved in the Greenham Common protest to stop US cruise missiles being based in the UK.
Joan, who was arrested for breach of the peace but released without charge after 30 hours in a Glasgow police station cell, said: 'We were searched, photographed, details taken, finger-printed and put in cells.
'Our watches were removed so we had no idea of the time unless we asked at the few times we were checked. The cell was hot and airless and the noise from the air-conditioning was unbearable for me during the night.'
Joan, who described the experience as 'pretty horrific', wants people to put pressure on Labour not to replace the aging Trident missile system with one which the government says may cost £42billion but which opponents claim may be as much as £72billion.
Joan, who has six grandchildren, added: 'We have got to take a stand against violence generally and Trident missiles are an illegal weapon. If our security depends on a weapon like that then I'm ashamed.'
Joan has been arrested several times over the years. On a previous occasion she was found guilty of causing a breach of the peace after lying down in the gateway to the Faslane base.
But Justice of the peace John Duncansaid he was only admonishing Joan, with no penalty, because of her age.
This annoyed Joan, a retired teacher for the deaf,who replied that he should not take that into account as she had no intention of changing her ways.
The Commons defence committee is currently examining whether the UK should replace Trident, which is expected to be obsolete by 2020.
But Joan, a pacifist, said the billions spent on weapons and wars like the conflict in Iraq should be spent on feeding the world.
She wants to setup a local group who can protest at Faslane on a regular basis. She can be contacted on 01948 860862.
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