Roadblock - press release

Road protestors tear down fences to reclaim Saxon King burial site

Thirty protesters from the local road protest group Parklife (1) have torn down fences and reclaimed a Saxon King's burial site (2). Southend Borough Council this morning attempted to fence the area off in preparation for a new dual carriageway scheme (3). The protesters have chained themselves to the fences to prevent them being re-erected, and so far there have been no arrests. The burial site is part of Priory Park, that was given to the people of Southend in the 1900’s by a local benefactor.

The burial site was discovered in February 2004, and is considered by the Museum of London as "the most important Anglo-Saxon burial found since the 1939 discovery of the great ship burial at Sutton Hoo in Suffolk". Many of the objects from this site are now displayed in the Museum (4). Priory Park is also a vital green lung for local people, with 113 trees and 3000m2 of green public open space under threat.

Speaking from the site, local campaigner Shaun Qureshi said:

'Priory Park and the king's burial site are two of the places which make Southend special to the people of this town. More than 20,000 signatures were submitted by residents and groups against this road, compared to just 16 in favour during public consultation. 113 trees will be felled, and 3000m2 of public open space, including the burial site, will be buried permanently under concrete and tarmac if funding is granted. The people protesting today have been ignored each and every time they have spoken out.'

The costs of this road have dramatically escalated, making it quite possibly one of the most expensive stretches of tarmac in the country. In 2000 the government agreed £3.5million to fund the scheme. Since then the costs have spiralled to £11.242million for a 870 meter stretch of dual carriageway. Cost per mile for F5 road scheme is £20.791m, based upon £11.242m for the 870 metre stretch of carriageway. Southend on Sea Borough Council have a bid for funding into the Government, and an announcement is expected shortly.

Notes to Editors

(1) Parklife are a single issue residents group, formed in June 2001 to protect Priory Park, Southend on Sea, Essex. They oppose any current or future road schemes, which would have a detrimental impact upon the park and its immediate surroundings. See http://savepriorypark.org/

(2) The 'Prittlewell Prince' can be viewed at http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/

(3) A127 / A1159 Priory Crescent scheme in Southend on Sea can be viewed at http://www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?content=4430 . The scheme is only 870 meters, yet is over £11 million.

(4) Opposition to the scheme is very high with nearly 20,000 petition signatories, and 2000 individual letters sent in to the March 2004 Public Inquiry.

Contact: Rebecca Lush or Victoria Harvey at Road Block on 020 7729 6973,

or Shaun from Parklife on 07739 189165 or 07871 574268