National NGO’s representatives visit Combe Haven protest camp.

Message clear: car based development – so last century

A sea of security guards

Surviving gyrating tree trunks 60 feet up in a howling gale takes courage

A protestor, held to the ground

A young protestor

BBC and Meridian in attendance

Campaigners for better conditions for cyclists and less traffic join the protest.

IT’S NOT ALL OVER

The national organisations representatives, along with regional and local officers came down to the Combe Haven Defenders (CHDs) Decoy stream valley BHLR protest camp on Sunday, January 27th, in support of those continuing their opposition to the scheme (see link to press release below).

Following an honourable tradition of peaceful direct action, the CHDs have shown a lot of courage in the last few days, with tree dwellers 60 feet up trunks which were gyrating in gales on several nights this week – terrifying and exhausting. In a display of inhumanity, they have been denied access to food and warmth by East Sussex County Council who would like all those protesting to “push off” (Cllr Peter Jones words).

Well, no-one will be ‘pushing off’ from the task of opposing a road scheme demonstrably criticised by the Department for Transport, unlikely to deliver the (inflated) economic benefits,  financed unquestioningly by Chancellor George Osbourne, and resembling a rather poor GCSE project. By virtue of that fact, East Sussex County Council on its own has  almost certainly been successful in delaying BHLR by several years – adding hugely to its cost to the public purse. We must remember: not a penny of private sector money has been secured, despite government exhortations in 2004 to do so.

Cllr Jones himself will be ‘pushing off’ soon to a new house outside Hastings, and is reportedly not standing for re-election. Following BHLR, in a moderate westerly wind, the location of his new home will just about be within earshot of the thrum of 30% extra traffic hitting the mayhem of the already congested Ridge.

With the government body charged with protecting our historic resources – English Heritage – now expressing  a willingness to carry out a thorough investigation of the very real possibility that the construction of the Link Road (BHLR) will irrevocably damage the true site of the Battle of Hastings, we call upon East Sussex County Council to halt their damaging activities: destruction has now begun.

http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/media/27-jan-hastings-visit