A1159 road
Encyclopedia
The A1159 road is a short road skirting the north of Southend-on-Sea
from Prittlewell
to Southchurch
, in Essex
, England
.
archaeological remains, a rare example of Anglo-Saxon
burial. The road scheme has faced local controversy due to its location over the grave site and the loss of land from the adjoining Priory Park
that would occur with its construction. The scheme is opposed by single issue local campaign groups Parklife and Priory Park Preservation Society. Since 2005 it has also been the site on an anti-road protest
camp known as Camp Bling
. Due to the opposition from local residents and the escalation in costs the scheme is currently under review. When first proposed in 2000 the scheme was given an estimated cost of £3.5 million, but by 2006 costs had escalated to £20 million and in 2008 the new scheme was estimated at £10.8 million. This reduction in cost is mostly due to the removal of proposals to rebuild the railway bridge from the scheme.
At a meeting held between campaigners and Council members at the end of April 2009 it was announced that the scheme had been abandoned following its failure to receive funding from central government.
Southend Council has now instead secured £5 million from the government for a project to ease congestion at the Cuckoo Corner roundabout. This new project would have no effect on Priory Park or the burial site and reduces the widening of Priory Crescent.
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
from Prittlewell
Prittlewell
Prittlewell is an area of Southend-on-Sea in Essex. Historically, Prittlewell is the original town, Southend being the south end of Prittlewell.Originally a Saxon village, Prittlewell is centred on St...
to Southchurch
Southchurch
Southchurch is now part of Southend-on-Sea in Essex, England. However, it was an independent parish until 1894 and has a documented history going back to the ninth century AD....
, in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
A127/A1159 Cuckoo Corner & Priory Crescent
In 2000 plans were announced to dual an 800m stretch of the A1159 comprising Priory Crescent and the Cuckoo Corner junction connecting it to the A127. This plan would, alongside the widening of the road, also included rebuilding of the bridge on which the road crosses the railway line. Preparatory work in 2003 led to the discovery of the Royal Saxon tomb in PrittlewellRoyal saxon tomb in Prittlewell
The Royal Saxon tomb in Prittlewell is a high-status Anglo-Saxon tomb excavated at Prittlewell, north of Southend-on-Sea, in the English county of Essex....
archaeological remains, a rare example of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
burial. The road scheme has faced local controversy due to its location over the grave site and the loss of land from the adjoining Priory Park
Priory Park, Southend-on-Sea
Priory Park is a public park situated in Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, England, adjacent to Prittlewell Priory.-External links:...
that would occur with its construction. The scheme is opposed by single issue local campaign groups Parklife and Priory Park Preservation Society. Since 2005 it has also been the site on an anti-road protest
Road protest (UK)
Road protest in the United Kingdom usually occurs as a reaction to a stated intention by the empowered authorities to build a new road, or to modify an existing road. Protests may also be made by those wishing to see new roads built or improvements made to existing roads. Motivations for protests...
camp known as Camp Bling
Camp Bling
Camp Bling, the long running UK based road protest camp was set up in Southend-on-Sea in Essex during September 2005 to obstruct a £25m plan to widen the Priory Crescent section of the A1159 road over the Royal Saxon tomb in Prittlewell...
. Due to the opposition from local residents and the escalation in costs the scheme is currently under review. When first proposed in 2000 the scheme was given an estimated cost of £3.5 million, but by 2006 costs had escalated to £20 million and in 2008 the new scheme was estimated at £10.8 million. This reduction in cost is mostly due to the removal of proposals to rebuild the railway bridge from the scheme.
At a meeting held between campaigners and Council members at the end of April 2009 it was announced that the scheme had been abandoned following its failure to receive funding from central government.
Southend Council has now instead secured £5 million from the government for a project to ease congestion at the Cuckoo Corner roundabout. This new project would have no effect on Priory Park or the burial site and reduces the widening of Priory Crescent.