13.6.06: Road Campaigners unite at National Roads Conference
On the hottest day of the year so far, a group from TSLM caught the train to Birmingham, home of infamous Spaghetti Junction, for the national conference of Road Block, campaigners against unnecessary and damaging roads (Saturday, 10th June).
Our own Mike Porter, fast becoming a recognised expert in his field, sat on a panel discussing alternatives to road building. TSLM were also invited to share our experiences and describe to other transport campaigns how we have been proposing sustainable alternatives to the unpopular Heysham M6 Link Road.
We met campaigners from all over the country, and not surprisingly, many people came from the Northwest. We resolved to work together to fight road schemes that fail to solve congestion and destroy our environment.
Mike Jacobs from Halton was enthusiastic. “I learned a tremendous amount and met people with skills and experience, eager to help us.
“There was a general sense that we may be at a turning point. Politicians are beginning to understand the importance of climate change, and how it is made worse by road building in our communities.
“It is very encouraging that Transport 2000 is setting up “Climate Clinics” for the political party conferences to headline the issues.
“I felt that there was animation and optimism there, overcoming people’s sense of helplessness in the face of the bureaucratic decision-making process.”
Mike Porter said: “This has been an important day for us, making contacts and sharing information. In particular, we learned from national experts about Judicial Review and how we could use legal process in our fight.
“We strengthened our alliance with colleagues in the Northwest region, and plan to share information, advice and plans. Amongst others, we met the Kendal Group, recently formed to fight the threat of yet another Kendal bypass. It just goes to show that one bypass is never enough for some people; they will not learn from the failures of the last century.”
David Gate summed it up: “In Lancaster & Morecambe we are fighting against the hastily and ill-conceived Heysham M6 Link Road, which would destroy our communities and our environment.
“Today we met other ordinary people fighting other destructive roads. And people are beginning to see it as part of the wider struggle against the threat of global warming.
“The message from the conference was clear: we live in extraordinary times, when ordinary people must do extraordinary things.”