Occupation Of Department for Transport

                           16th August 2005                               

PRESS RELEASE - Parklife, Save Priory Park Campaign.
Tuesday 16^th August 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

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Parklife stages DfT sit-in for Saxon King.

Southend based road campaigners Parklife are taking direct action this morning, to stage a sit-in and public demonstration - at the Department for Transport (DfT) main offices on Marsham Street in central London - against the controversial F5 road scheme planned for the A127/A1159 Priory Crescent, Southend-on-Sea, Essex.

The group opposes plans to build a dual carriageway on top of an internationally renowned East Saxon king's burial site, dubbed by the media as both the, 'Prince of Prittlewell' and 'King of Bling.' The burial was discovered during preparatory works for the road early in 2004, and has been described by experts as, 'A discovery of international importance which stunningly illuminates the rich and complex world of the so-called Dark Ages.' ⁽¹⁾

Parklife entered the Marsham Street office, to protest in advance of a decision on funding to be made by the DfT. Speaking from inside the building, campaigner Shaun Qureshi said, 'This protest is to draw attention to one of the most ridiculous road schemes ever devised, to put pressure on the decision makers to stop funding, and to show that, should the final go-ahead be given, the people of Southend will take direct action to stop it.'

The stretch of carriageway, which is due to be widened, after the result of a local public inquiry was announced earlier this year, has been subject to continued local opposition from both local residents and green groups. Costs have more than tripled from the original figure of £3.5m, agreed in December 2000, and the Government funding announcement is keenly awaited by all concerned.

More than 20,000 signatures were submitted by local residents and groups against the road - compared to just 16 responses in favour - during public consultation held by the local authority. The scheme requires the felling of 113 trees, and the use of 3000m² of public open space, including the burial site and part of the adjoining Priory Park, to accommodate new carriageways, footpaths, and associated highway utilities.⁽²⁾

Anthony Bailey, from Parklife added, 'The price of the road was last calculated at £11.24m in 2004, for just 870 metres and two new lanes. This compares per mile, to the cost of a brand new stretch of motorway, with all of the associated destruction that it will bring. Today we call upon the DfT to reject funding, and to stop this madness once and for all. If they do not listen now, then this is set to become one of the most expensive and destructive stretches of tarmac in the country.'⁽³⁾

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ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

(1) Quote from Ian Blair, Senior Archaeologist on site of burial. Printed in Museum of London Press Office release, February 2004. www.museumoflondon.org.uk

(2) Figures taken from representations made by Southend Borough Council and consultants W.S. Atkins, during local public inquiry into F5 road scheme, March 2004.

(3) Based on figures from Southend Borough Council's Local Transport Plan, Annual Progress Report, July 2004. Cost per mile for F5 road scheme is £20.791m, based upon £11.242m for the 870 metre stretch of carriageway. Comparisons to other schemes can be made at www.roadblock.org.uk

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