Anti-road camp set up in West Sussex

Campaigners determined to stop the building of Arundel's bypass of the existing bypass, have setup a protest camp on the line of the route in beautiful woodland on Tortington Common, in West Sussex.

This new bypass is yet another part of the planned South Coast motorway being built by stealth in segments. Bypassing the existing bypass this road would be an unmitigated ecological disaster. It would cross the important River Arun wetlands south of Arundel on concrete stilts or a huge embankment, and then plough through a mile of precious Sussex woodland. Thousands, probably tens of thousands, of trees would be lost, including some fine 100 foot oak trees, yews, and one particular 100 foot beech tree, thought to be the oldest tree in the woods.

Speaking from the site of the camp Ian Brookes for SCAR(1) said: "The proposed road is the result of the road lobby's usual divide and rule tactic to overcome objections. They knew it was the only way they could get their preferred route. Determined locals focused on stopping a road are impossible to defeat. The road builders know that if this bypass goes ahead, it will not be long before they get the prize of laying concrete over Cissbury Ring and the South Downs north of Worthing.

But we can stop all this madness now, before the final go-ahead is given. An effective camp can add 10's of millions of pounds to the cost of a road building scheme - which could be enough to tilt the balance. Apart from the large camp already here now, we are expecting hundreds to join soon. Many will be veteran campaigners from Newbury etc and everyone is welcome for as long as they want to stay. Many locals horrified by the destruction this road will do to their wonderful countryside and are unable to stay in the camp are helping out in other ways, either by contributing a few hours of labour or bringing supplies".

Finally Ian Brookes said: "Clearly such a large and determined group are going to bring this governments u-turn on road building back into the headlines. Wasn't it John Prescott who said back in the heady days of New Labour's first year of Government 'no more roads'. Perhaps as New Labour starts to sink in the polls they might just start to yearn for those days when promises were so cheap".

(1) South Coast Against Roadbuilding (SCAR) was formed in 1994, as an umbrella group to local groups fighting the threat of more road building. Many of the groups support non-violent direct action and were at Twyford Down, Newbury and the A30.