Back to SCAR Home PageSCAR is a network of local groups in the corridor stretching from Ramsgate in Kent, to beyond Honiton in Devon. SCAR promotes positive alternatives to road building from Ramsgate and all along the South Coast, as well as opposing new roads.
SCAR published Travelling Light: 'Alternatives to the South Coast Superhighway'. Based on investing in the South Coast railway - together with other public transport modes, walking, cycling and traffic calming - it highlights the opportunities for solving access problems along the South Coast, while improving both local economies and local environments.
SCAR is now becoming increasingly concerned that this original plan is being dusted off again with a new series of Department for Transport led road study's.
It has co-ordinated stunts across the whole length of the route to add a highly visual element to the campaign and to raise public awareness. These include:
SCAR produced a study showing how expensive and wasteful building roads using private finance is. Using the government's own figures it demonstrated that these privately built roads could end costing the taxpayer three times more than conventionally funded roads. It would be cheaper to build them using a credit card!
SCAR submitted "Travelling Light" in response to the Governments invitation for comment on their consultation paper "What role for Trunk Roads in England".
SCAR was an early member of the South East Forum for Sustainability (SEFS) joining with other groups such as The RSPB. Friends of the Earth. The Cyclists Touring Club. The Wild Life Trusts in speaking with one voice on the environment at government meetings.
| 1994 | |
| March | 1994 trunk road programme review report published |
| 23 April | Inaugural meeting |
| 24 June | Public launch |
| 6 July | Tour de France protest - huge chalk cartoon John Major |
| 13 July | John Major cartoon on billboard opposite DOT HQ |
| August | Worthing to Lancing Improvement public inquiry closes |
| 15 August | Public meeting and brochure launch |
| 20 September | Chideock and Morcombelake Bypass public inquiry closes |
| October | Romney Marsh schemes public inquiry opens |
| 1995 | |
| January | Guestling Thorn to east of Rye round table held |
| 13 January | Romney Marsh schemes public inquiry closes |
| 25 March | Patching Junction protest |
| April | Guestling Thorn to east of Rye round table held |
| May | Honiton Eastern Bypass public inquiry opens |
| June | SCRAMM - South Coast Ramble Against Megaroad Madness |
| 4 August | Meridian TV documentary on South Coast trunk road |
| 12 September | Protest at Hastings bypasses pre-inquiry meeting |
| October | Honiton Eastern Bypass public inquiry closes |
| 31 October | Hastings bypasses public inquiry opens |
| November | 1995 trunk road programme review report published |
| 1996 | |
| January | Keith Buchan appeal |
| March | Benefit concert by Julian Cope |
| 18 March | Southwick Tunnel protest |
| 13 April | Road Traffic Reduction Bill campaign - Surround the DOT |
| May | Keith Buchan appears at Hastings bypasses inquiry |
| 21 May | Protest at Hastings bypasses inquiry (big SCAR map) |
| June | Weymouth Relief Road protesters set up Teddy Bear Camp |
| 9 June | Polegate Bypass walk |
| 18 July | Hastings bypasses public inquiry closes |
| 17 September | Travelling Light launched in Southampton and 5 counties |
| November | 1996 trunk road programme review outcome announced |
| 1997 | |
| 22 January | RTRB campaign - rally and mass lobby of Parliament |
| 23 January | Eviction of A30 protesters' Fairmile camp begins |
| 7 February | Transport Secretary given Travelling Light on Brighton visit |
| 21 March | Road Traffic Reduction Bill receives Royal Assent |
| 2 May | Labour wins election - will review trunk roads & DBFOs |
| 2001 | |
| 24 June | Hastings - Bexhill bypass walk. 60 activists join the walk. |
| 9 July + | SCAR members attend the new South Coast Multi Modal Study Workshops along the corridor. |
| 12 July | Plan to build the Hastings bypasses scraped |
| 11 August | SCAR writes to Stephen Byers. Timetable requested for Hastings public transport improvements. |
| 15 September | SCAR attends the Brighton meeting to assess SoCoMMs to date, organised by SEFS transport group. |
| 27 November | SCAR joins the fight to save ancient woodland in the Titnore Lane Worthing widening horror |
| 2002 | |
| 9 May | South Coast Multi-Modal Study (SoCoMMS). Consultants preferred transport strategy unveiled |
| 5 July | SCAR voices its concern over the A24 Ashington to Southwater detailed options report |
| 6 July | SCAR submits its response to SoCoMMs preferred strategy |
| 25 November | A24 Alliance formed. A24 scheme cancelled 2013 |
| 2003 | |
| 22 June | Camp set up to stop the Arundel bypass of the bypass. It could be back again soon (2014) |
| 9 July | Transport Secretary rejects the Arundel bypass and other damaging road schemes in West Sussex |
| 2009 | Oh yes we're still watching you road builders. |
| 2014 | We're back on the case - watch this space! |
Original idea by Colin Murray
East Sussex Transport 2000