Return To Spring 1996Index
After eighteen moths of relatively peaceful protest, the oldest of the Newbury anti-road camps has been raided by Bailiffs, on 1996 February 29. The Government's Transport Agency hope that by hitting the oldest and most well known camp, at Snellsmore, a psychological blow will reverberate throughout the remaining 20 or so camps.
Known in Britain as the A34, in Europe as the Euroroute E5, the proposed Newbury Bypass is set to be one of the most controversial road building projects of the decade. For the inhabitants of Newbury, in Berkshie, the incessant flow of heavy traffic making its way from Southampton and the South of England to the Midlands and the North has made their life a noisy and polluted hell on earth.
Wave of protestUnfortunately, the route chosen by the Government for the 9km stretch of road, costing an estimated £65 million, will cut through some of the oldest and most beautiful countryside in Britain - not to mention a number of SSSI's - Sites of Special Scientific Interest. This has mobilised a whole wave of protest, from all over the country, and a miscellany of camps, tree houses and underground warrens have been created by a dedicated band of protesters. The plan is that the protests will add considerably to the cost, thus discouraging future road building projects.
Think againOur contact at Snellsmore is Pete, an earnest fellow in his mid twenties. He has been on site for over a year. A tree surgeon by profession, he works for a week and then comes down to Snellsmore for a week to help the protest. He helps co-ordinate the protest with the aid of a mobile phone, ironically powered by two car batteries strapped up a tree.
He told us "I'm doubt that we will stop this road, but it will make the Government think very hard before they start another similar project."
He took a reel of our high grade press film and during a hurried telephone call this morning, has promised us inside pictures as soon as he can.
BattlefieldAt the most southerly end of the route lies Penwood camp. Earlier this year an attempt was made to clear the camp and the aftermath resembles a battlefield. Nominally in charge of the camp is Martin, a hippie-looking guy in his early thirties donning a well worn sheepskin jacket that looks like someone first owned it in the sixties!
During a recent visit to the camps, he showed us where protesters had replanted trees knocked down by the bulldozers. He pleaded for from the public at large to stop the road - part of which is already under construction.
Critical mass is 300
He said "There are already enough of us to protest non-violently, and make a difference, but we really need more people for backup. There are about 200 full time protesters on site at any one time. Would need 300 to stop the road, that's our critical mass!"
He pointed out that "This protest is now global - being covered from Japan to Germany - Brazil to Spain."
Beat them up and rape their women.
Two of Martin's protégés, a quiet, yet well informed couple in their early twenties called Andy and Kerry told us of the pressure they are under. Regular listeners to CB radio they are shocked by the hostility of lorry drivers. One of the nastiest conversions they overheard went, "Let's go down there, and teach hose hippies a lesson. We'll beat them up and rape their women!"
Andy's response was, "All we've done is climb a tree!'
"We are getting donations from local people. Many people have warmed to our arguments. We don't want more roads. We need to get people out of their motorcars, not build more strips of tarmac and concrete to run them on."
"Security guards have taken off their uniforms and walked from the site after being convinced by protesters argument. People are giving up jobs to join."
"At one of our camps, the Chef gave up £11,000 job to join in. His campfire dinners are excellent!" He added.
The protesters are getting support from Friends of Earth. Greenpeace, RSPB and other environmental organisations. It seems that mainstream conservation is supporting the protest.
DividedThe issue had divided the town and whilst some people are on the side of the protesters other residents are very hostile. Protesters' leaders advise campers to keep off the road after dark.
They talk of a number of nasty incidents in recent months including a time when they had had to jump into river to avoid being physically assaulted, and an alleged drive by shooting. Fortunately no one was hurt.
IssuesAll around the motorcar-using world, hotly fought conflicts such as this are springing up. The dream of the open road, and a car for everyone is fading fast. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the Newbury protest, mankind must to think about alternatives to the automobile.
Unfortunately, there are no quick fixes.
Electric cars?The electricity still has to be generated, and roads are needed to run them on.
Perhaps more people should work from home, perhaps via the Internet?
Trouble with that is people are so used to travelling to work, and enjoy the comradeship of working with other people.
Clearly, solutions to our ever increasing environmental problems need to be based deep in the heart of society, and require fundamental changes people's attitudes - in addition to massive technological changes.
