Camp Bling

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Camp Bling is a UK based road protest camp in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. It is set up to halt plans to build a controversial new road (f5) over Royal saxon tomb in Prittlewell. It is situated between a main road and a railway line. It was established on 22 September 2005.

1 Raison d'être
2 Day to day life
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Raison d'être

The proposed road building scheme was rejected by the people of Southend. 20,000 signatories completed petitions were taken before the local authority's public consultation deadline of 31st January 2002. Of those responding to the official Winter 2001 Civic News survey, only 16 people were in favour of the proposals from a delivery area covering all Southend households. The road would result it the felling of 111 trees and a loss of 300sq meters of public green space. The current cost of the proposed sceme is £20.5 million, higher than original estimates

It is also home to an Anglo-Saxon king's burial chamber, described by British archaeologists as "the most spectacular discovery of its kind made during the past 60 years".

[edit] Day to day life

A 'Blinger' enjoying his tea

The buildings are heated by wood burning fires and run off donated wood. Water is collected on a daily basis. Food is cooked on a calor gas oven and there is a composting toilet. A wind generator provides the evening lighting.

The site consists of a large communal area, a visitors centre and several personal dwellings. All buildings are made from re-cycled materials and with the upmost precison, at least one compound angle has been spotted. The communal area features adequate seating, heating and a bookcase which reflects the eclectic tastes of the occupants. It is also alledged to hold the largest Derrick Jensen collection in England, but such claims are yet to be proven.

Since there is no television on site, the residents, or ‘Blingers’, make their own entertainment. This has been known to include; listening to the radio, playing scrabble, intellectual debates, changing inner tubes and other activities.