Oxleas Wood Saved!

The government has dropped its £300 million plans to drive a road through Oxleas Wood in southeast London. THIS IS A MASSIVE VICTORY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT MOVEMENT IN THIS COUNTRY! The Department of Roads announced that the scheme was designed many years ago, and no longer meets our strict environmental criteria’(!!!). The decision was obviously nothing to do with over a year’s direct action at Twyford Down, the formation of the Oxleas Alliance (see EF! AU no 4), or the fact that 3,000 people had signed a pledge to "Beat the Bulldozers".

The bad news is that the DoT proposes to introduce a new scheme, which may be privately financed. One possibility is a deep-bored tunnel linking the Thames and the A2. A competition may be held to design a bridge across the Thames. The scheme will be starting from scratch but the DoT still envisages that the road will be operational by the year 2001.

The Oxleas Alliance still plans to hold a mass rally at Oxleas Wood on Sunday 31st July to re-launch the "Beat the Bulldozer" pledge, and to celebrate this victory. Another important focus of the day will be to show our determination to fight any alternative road schemes the DoT may come up with. Campaigns against other road schemes around the country will also be discussed so BE THERE!