The Newbury bypass was a £101 million, 13km trail of destruction which saw the felling of 10,000 trees, trashed 3 Sites of Special Scientific Interests, damaging the habitat of numerous animals and destroying the last remaining colony of the Desmoulin Whorf snail. If that wasn't enough it also ruined twelve archaeological sites, including two civil war battle sites and an ancient stone-age settlement. Occupied for nearly two years, the eviction became an 85 day battle which involved 29 camps along the route with hundreds of treehouses. Over 700 arrests were made, and the security bill topped £1.5million. Thousands of bailiffs and police were defied. Although this road was eventually built, the resistance put up along with that at many other sites around the country caused the government to shelve its £23 billion road programme.

The first Reunion Rampage, a year after the final eviction, ended with a mass site invasion and the torching of caravans and machines belonging to the contractors (for more see SchNEWS 103).

There will be a gathering and demonstration this Saturday (7th) at 2pm meeting at Middle Oak (A4/A34 junction), followed by a candle lit vigil at Donnington Castle. Bring everything you will need from camping gear to food. For more info contact 07963 648762.
Carry On CampingAnd Now Back To The Future...

Protest camps stopping a road cutting through Dalkeith Country Park face imminent eviction. Today (Fri 6th Jan) there is a safety meeting between bailiffs and protesters at the Dalkeith Park protest site, near Edinburgh (See SchNEWS 522). The eviction company (Richard Turner, who gained infamy at Newbury and Stanworth Valley for providing climbers to evict tree dwellers) have come up from Wales and could be eager to start work - the protesters fear that the site could get 48 hours notice making next Monday an eviction red alert day. In early December several protest camps were set up along the proposed route of the northern bypass cutting through the middle of the 850 acre park, and there was a reprieve because Conservation laws protected trees with bats entered their hibernating season. Despite this more trees were cut, turning a blind eye to the bats. Camps are protecting further damage and urgently need more people - this could be a matter of days not weeks. Site mobile 07743 495582 and see www.save-dalkeith-park.org.uk

* Also in Scotland, JAM74 - stopping the building of the M74 northern extension - a 6 lane motorway on concrete stilts - which is to cut straight through Glasgow's southern suburbs, and recently won the 'Pock Award' for worst planning decision of the year. (See SchNEWS 501 for more) Donations are currently needed to mount a legal challenge to the Scottish Executive www.jam74.org.

* Bilston Glen camp is going into its fifth year - protecting an ancient SSSI woodland just south of Edinburgh they want to re-route the A701 road through. For more see www.bilstonglen-abs.org.uk

* Camp Bling protest camp was set up in opposition to a road being built on Priory Park in Southend, Essex. It's now heading for its fourth month. As part of their campaign to stop the F5 (A127/A1159) road scheme, activists have constructed and occupied a tree camp right in the heart of town (See SchNEWS 519). Road work starts this year and eviction could be pending as soon as the council get enough dosh. A visitors centre is being planned for people to check out the site. Informal meetings with Parklife on third Wednesday of month starting 18th January 7.30pm upstairs at The Spread Eagle, Victoria Avenue, Prittlewell. The first of regular informal meetings with Parklife. Camp Bling line 07817 182394 www.savepriorypark.org

GOING DUTCH

Meanwhile over in Holland, there is an expected eviction on Monday 9th Jan as a protest camp with treehouses and tunnels faces up to 1000 military and police in the Schinveld Forest in south east Holland near Maastricht. The camp - under the banner of GroenFront! (Dutch Earth First) - was set up on December 4th to protect six hectares of woodland being flattened to be used by NATO for AWACS military radar planes to land. GroenFront! are urging people to get there - but bring everything you'll need. www.groenfront.nl.

Keep one eye on the road at...
www.roadalert.org.uk
www.roadblock.org.uk

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Check out  http://schnews.org.uk/archive/news526.htm for the rest of this weeks issue.