Today, South Coast Against Roadbuilding (SCAR), the umbrella group for local groups fighting traffic generating road building schemes in their area's, joined with national groups  in writing to Alistair Darling pointing out what strong local opposition there is, including the potential for a voter backlash, if he gives the go-ahead for damaging road schemes.

For SCAR Ian Brooks said: "With many of the road schemes proposed by the Governments South Coast transport study going through cherished English countryside, the Government can expect an angry backlash from voters etc if Alistair Darling rubberstamps such willful environmental damage".

Continuing Ian Brooks explained: "Only five years ago Parliament passed the Road Traffic Reduction Act which set targets to reduce traffic on our roads, yet this Government is set to increase traffic with this orgy of road building. Clearly if this Government refuses to respect an Act of Parliament then it would seem that they are on course to face scenes they previously witnessed at Twyford Down and Newbury etc".

~ends~

Notes for Editors.

[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 our
groups support non-violent direct action and were at Twyford Down, Newbury
and the A30].