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The press has been buzzing with excitement as they report on the conflict between anti-road protesters and construction teams working on the 9km stretch of the new Newbury Bypass, in Berkshire, England.
So it is sad to see a split is developing between the responsible and media-aware anti-road leadership who are genuinely trying to protect the environment, and a small but frustrating rabble of party goers and middle class kids with nothing better to do than make a lot of noise, and ruin years of hard graft.
Working closely in association with Green organisations including Friends of the Earth the road legitimate protesters have a formidable task on their hands. Their struggle is not helped by the rabble don't have the sense they were born with.
One can appreciate that, after two weeks out in the bitterly cold January wind, the desire to hold a party to celebrate. But serious protesters from the Snellsmore camp have been there for up to 18 months, quietly protesting and winning the support of local residents.
On Saturday 21 January 1996 the rowdies boogied the night away having set up a powerful mobile sound system in the heart of the Berkshire countryside - which was subsequently confiscated by the Police.
In addition to running foul of the law, much of the sympathy that the protesters had from local people also opposed to the road was lost overnight by the rowdies. Even a local vicar who had formerly supported protest called the Police at 04:00 to complain about noise. How could he persuade his parishioners to be sympathetic when they were also harassed by loud music?
Undeterred, the rabble seem ever more determined to shoot both themselves, and the hardworking and dedicated anti-road community in the foot. In February, a contingent of protesters moved from Newbury to Gosport in Hampshire, 70km away, and blockaded local firm, Priory Coaches, whose busses were used to ferry contractors to, and from Newbury.
Trouble is they actually held up coaches bound for disabled children. Nice one guys! Of course, the local media loved this, as it caused much gnashing of the teeth within the leadership.
The anti-road leadership is based on the second floor of Maidenhead House, a run down office block in the heart of Newbury and are desperate to keep things under control. Notices are placed all over the building warning the rabble to behave themselves in the office otherwise they will loose it.
Orginised by Friends of Earth and Third Battle of Newbury, the office is efficient, well run, and informed. Its staff seem very keen to keep on good terms with press.
We had a chat with a senior member of the leadership, a guy in his mid twenties, who was tearing out his red mohecan hair in frustration. He asked us not to print his name but admitted that he was very fed up with the unruly element, and, "wished they would go back to mummy and daddy!"
He added, "We are clinging on to our tenancy, and public sympathy by the skin of our teeth - and we don't need these idiots messing up all our hard work!"
