The campaign against the controversial A127/A1159 Priory Crescent ‘F5’ road widening scheme took yet another dramatic new turn tonight, when dozens of local residents ‘stormed’ a celebration at the town’s Cluniac Priory to mark Southend Borough Council receiving the coveted British Archaeological Awards 2006 ‘Current Archaeology Developer-Funder Archaeology Award,’ for the discovery of the ‘King of Bling,’ in Prittlewell in late 2003.

Amid chaotic scenes, Councillors and Dignitaries attending the celebration received a speech from Southend ‘Mayor’ John Smith, who apologised on behalf of the Council for their intention to destroy the East Saxon king’s burial site, promised to return the award received last October in Birmingham, and then dramatically announced the immediate cancellation of the F5 road widening, after having, ‘finally listened to and taken note of the majority of people in Southend who have been shown repeatedly to oppose the scheme.’

Local resident Patsy Link who joined the demonstrators said, ‘This award presented to Southend Borough Council is said to celebrate the merits of developer funded archaeology, which in the case of the discovery of the burial has provided the opportunity to rewrite history. Southend Borough Council now has a site to rival the Sutton Hoo ship burial in Suffolk, but still seeks to bury it under 10 feet of concrete for the road widening. To celebrate then destroy it is nothing short of sheer lunacy on the part of the people here tonight at the Priory.’

A decision to fund the road widening has been awaited from the Department for Transport since a local Public Inquiry took place in March 2004. Information from the East of England Regional Partnership Group shows that costs have now risen to an estimated £25m for the 870 metre length of carriageway, making it potentially, ‘The most expensive stretch of road in the world.’

In the mean time local protest site Camp Bling still occupies the land above the burial, 4 as it has for sixteen months since first being set up by locals in September 2005. It is rumoured that one of the deepest protest tunnel systems ever known has since been dug to help defend the camp, and numbers have grown significantly as the funding decision is awaited.

Mabel Jones of Prittlewell said, ‘If the local Council and central Government perceive that this campaign is only about a handful of people against the road scheme then they need to think again and quickly. Tonight has shown that a large cross section of the local community are not just against the scheme, but will actively attempt to stop it if the funding go ahead is now given.’

 http://blingblog.bravejournal.com/