Stringers Common

May 12th 1997: Surrey County Council announce that the A320 Guildford to Woking road scheme would be scrapped "due to financial difficulties." The road would have gone through an area known as Stringer's Common damaging an SSSI, a pond & destroying 221 mature trees. All to move the existing traffic jam a little further up the road. There was no mention in the official press release of the tunnels dug by those defending the Common, but the Council later told the BBC that their tunnels had played a significant part in stopping the road.

"This is a victory not only for the local people around Stringer's Common but for everyone that has dared to stand up to the ever more powerful car-culture...If the camps & tunnels had not been here this road would have gone ahead... We would like to thank the local people for all their support they have provided the camps this battle could not have been won without everyone working together."

Vicky (one of the first campaigners on Stringers common).

Protesters dismantled the camps & filled in the tunnels, returning the common to its natural state.

related links:

Twyford Down, M11 Link Road, Newbury, Reclaim the Streets, 100 Days of Protest, A Corporate response External links

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