Southend Standard
Friday June 7, 2002

Campaigners plan bat demo

Dress up for park protest!

PROTESTERS fighting the controversial Priory Crescent widening shceme in Southend are planning a fancy dress "carnival procession" to coincide with the next full council meeting on June 27.

The latest action follows the news that bats have been discovered in two houses in Victoria Avenue which are set to be demolished for the new road.

Parklife, one of the protest groups involved, wants people to come along to the march—dressed as trees or bats!

Even though the council has given the green light to the scheme in principle, protest groups believe there is still major opposition around Southend.

Shaun Qureshi, Parklife spokesman, said: "The recent Parklink proved people are still against plans to damage the park

"Now we need a truly massive demonstration to make Southend Council think again about this ridiculous road."

The Parklink saw around 300 people,—some wearing comic masks of council leader Charles Latham and transport cabinet member Roger Weaver—join hands along the route of the proposed road.

It is planned the procession will leave Cuckoo Corner at 7.30pm and walk up Victoria Avenue to the Civic Centre where there will be a candlelit vigil until the end of the council meeting.

Mr Qureshi added; "We need as many people as possible to make costumes and props. We hope people will be dressing up as trees and dare we say it, bats!"

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