Oxleas Wood

10th May saw the coming together of a wide range of environmental groups under the banner of 'The Oxleas Alliance'. The Alliance is dedicated to defending Oxleas Wood, a SSSI, and stopping the road that threatens it - the East London River Crossing (ELRC).

ELRC threatens the 8,000 year old woodland of Oxleas, neighbouring Shepherdleas Wood, 240 homes and five other invaluable open spaces in South London.

The alliance consists of People Against the River Crossing (the local group), The Alliance Against Roadbuilding - ALARM UK, Friends of the Earth, WWF UK, London Cycling Campaign, London Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for Nature Conservation and Earth First!

The Alliance is organising a 'Beat the Bulldozer' pledge. Already 2,500 people have pledged to be there if the bulldozers move in on Oxleas. The Alliance has set a target of 10,000 pledgees for the largest peaceful direct action ever!

Eleven days after the launch of the alliance the British Road Federation announced its plan to save Oxleas Wood. This is worth noting, as the BRF (a powerful lobby group whose membership includes thousands of companies such as Tarmac) has until recently extolled the necessity and importance of an ELRC through Oxleas. Contact PARC, 10 Greenway, Chislehurst, Kent, BR7 6JE, or Brixton EF! - order pledge forms on 071 737 0100.