Battle joined at Siston Common

Battle joined at Siston Common
(05.01.99)

Call for supporters to join new protest camp on route
(from Margaret, for North Star camp and STARR):

The first action at Siston Common near Bristol took place in December, as fifteen protesters took on the diggers with D-locks and tried to block movement of a lone digger-driver. Work stopped for most of the day but there were no arrests.

We were protesting the building of the Avon Ring Road in the largest local authority funded scheme of its kind in the country. The plans include supermarkets and three thousand houses on beautiful unspoiled countryside. For many people living locally it feels like an all-out assault on the quality of life.

Even before local TV news showed footage, word had gone back along the cycle track that Stop the Avon Ring Road (STARR) had got stuck in. "Thank you for all you're doing for us," said the retired couple in Shortwood, who give us the water for our camp. We only wish we could do more!

We could use a lot of help up here. This battle is another M25, another Newbury bypass in the making. Three separate legal challenges continue in the courts, making it above all a winnable fight. But we do need more people here on the ground.

Starting after Christmas, and by the time you read this, there will be a highly "des res" here, bang on route, with all modern conveniences and French cooking, loads of good support and supplies and fun-loving, friendly, sorted people. It's an eco-activist's adventure playground - come and check it out for yourselves.

info: Camp mobile phone 0797 999 0389 Or write to 84 Colston Street Bristol BS1 5BB

Background info:

The £30 million stage two of the road, intended to link the M32 to the north of Bristol and the A4 in the east, was held up for three years by legal challenges from SCRAPPIT, a residents group formed in opposition.
Rowlan Dye of Bristol Cycling Campaign has said: "This road has very little to do with relieving local traffic congestion, but is designed to open up vast areas of green belt for development."
The part of the route where clearance is starting is the 1.8 mile "missing link" in dual carriageway between Mangotsfield and Warmley.

What is URGENT?

URGENT is primarily an information sharing network of concerned groups and individuals campaigning for sustainable social housing and urban regeneration policies.
URGENT has been set up in response to the current national housing crisis that threatens many greenfield sites with often inappropriate development, while elsewhere homes stand empty and urban sites remain derelict.
URGENT aims to be inclusive of every group or individual interested in this issue, who will remain autonomous, responsible for their own identity and campaigning approaches.

URGENT Box HN, 111 Magdalen Road, Oxford OX4 1RQ Tel. 07000 785202 [email protected] http://www.urgent.org.uk

Affiliate by sending donation of £5 or £10 (groups) payable to URGENT to above address. Issue 3 of newsletter out soon. Donations of office equipment for networking office and offers of similar help also appreciated.