Roadblock - press release

GAGGED PROTEST OVER GOVT'S M6 EXPANSION PLANS

Residents of Staffordshire and Cheshire will demonstrate at the Highways Agency M6 “stakeholder” consultation on Friday 13 January, at 2.00 pm at Sandbach, Cheshire [1]. They will make their points in a peaceful but visible way by walking to the front with gags over their mouths [2]. All of them are "stakeholders" but have been excluded from this - and any other - meaningful consultation [3].

Malcolm Carroll, one of the Staffordshire residents said:
"The Government sure knows how to put the 'con' into consultation. First the Government ignored us. Now the Government is gagging us. Last year we were given the choice of either yet another motorway or the equally destructive idea of widening the M6 through Staffordshire and Cheshire. 9500 people responded, with 98% saying No to both. The Govt ignored us and is running these seminars from which we, and other oppositional groups, have been excluded. So we will make our case in whatever ways remain open to us."

Andy Nash, a Cheshire resident and trainee lorry driver said:

"Blair says climate change is the greatest environmental threat facing humanity. Then he demands new roads - it's madness."

And Muppet Dave, who took on the bulldozers in 1997 at the M6 Toll Road in Staffordshire added:

"Climate change already kills people - 150,000 a year, according to the World Health Organisation. The only sound reason for a meeting about motorways is to discuss how to make urgent and drastic cuts in traffic."

Further information on the protest and the protestors, Malcolm Carroll 07717 802 892

Notes to Editors:

[1] The seminar is taking place at the Chimney House Hotel, Congleton Road, Sandbach, CW11 4ST. The Stakeholder Seminar, the second of two, will be led by Nick Curwen of the Highways Agency. Apparently there is a buffet lunch from 12.30 and the seminar begins at 2pm.

The seminars are taking place after the government in July 2005 claimed that after a 98% response against the road there was 'no consensus' and would bring forward the proposals.

See http://www.gnn.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=163772&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False
See http://www.roadblock.org.uk/press_releases/2005-07-20A.htm for Road Block press release.

[2] Photographs should be available. Contact 07717 802 892

[3] Many residents and oppositional groups claim they have not been invited to the 'stakeholder' events, casting yet more doubt on the government's commitment to genuine consultation.