Newbury Update

Work on route is limited to erection of cattle fencing and archaeological ‘watching briefs’. The cutting winds of Newbury ensure that fencing is falling almost as fast as its erected. Security on route has been reduced to less than three hundred and further lay-offs are expected. The recent find of a medieval site was hailed by the Highways Agency as a major success. ‘We wouldn’t have found it without the bypass’ they said! The site just south of Reddings copse was only ‘discovered’ 3 years ago. Too bad the inspector at the 1988 public enquiry couldn’t take it into account in arriving at a decision. A 100 acre gravel pit, solely for bypass aggregates has been given the go ahead by Berkshire County Council. The pit is just north of Rickety Bridge, home of the endangered Desmoulin’s whorl snail, strange no Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out - watch out for a judicial review.

There is still the possibility of (Belated) European intervention. The European Ombudsman is duty bound to report back by the end of this month, and politicians of the European Commission, who refused to refer Newbury’s case to the European Court should be quaking in their boots remembering what happened to the Tarmac offices. There are now nine camps just off route including a ‘diggers’ community that has been set up at Gotan, be prepared to camp and come self sufficient. There’s no Glastonbury this year so why not come down.

A phone, fax and junk mail blockade of the Highways Agency and Costain continues. Costain are suspected to ‘win’ the Newbury contract and an announcement is expected in the next two weeks. When leafing through your Sunday paper, why not complete applications for book club membership, language courses, gifts, etc for the Highways Agency’s Newbury Team: Steve Rowsell, Adrian Slack, Alan Odey and Graham Rainbow at Broad Street, Birmingham, B15 1BL or Rodger Jones (Contracts Director) and Steve Hall at Costain, Costain House, Nicholson’s walk, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6. As well as this the elves have been out in force trashing fences and tunnelling away through the night.

Around the country groups are being asked to start considering actions on Costain’s offices, construction sites, etc. Tuesday 21st May is set for a day of action. This summer promises to be a busy one in Newbury. Call 01635 550552 for the 24 hr information hotline or 01635 45544 for general inquires.