Just days after the European Commission opened infringment proceedings against the UK Government [1], protesters will take the campaign against the A34 Newbury Bypass to the dismal tower block occupied by the Department of Transport. Friends of the Earth and the local Third Battle of Newbury group will deliver a 5000 signature petition opposing the proposed by-pass to Dr Brian Mawhinney, Secretary of State for Transport on Wednesday.

The campaigners will also be pressing the Department of Transport to halt any further preparatory work on the route, and to delay signing contracts for the road construction, in the light of clear breaches of European law.

Protesters will display the European Union flag, and the Third Battle of Newbury flag to demonstrate widespread concern, locally, nationally and internationally about this destructive road scheme [2].

Simon Festing, Friends of the Earth's Habitats Campaigner said:

"The Minister will be flouting European rules if he proceeds with the Newbury by-pass. Friends of the Earth is calling on him to act now to prevent this misguided destruction of our countryside and natural heritage."

Jill Eisele of the Third Battle of Newbury said:

"The Government faces overwhelming local and national opposition to the Newbury by-pass. This destructive road scheme must be withdrawn immediately before irreparable damage to our wildlife sites is done."

ENDS

CONTACT: Simon Festing TEL: 071 566 1667 Neil Verlander - Press Office TEL

Jill Eisele TEL: 0488 608388 Susan Millington TEL: 0488 682817

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH NOTES TO EDITORS:

PHOTOCALL THE PETITION WILL BE DELIVERED ON WEDNESDAY 6TH NOVEMBER AT 12.00 HRS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, 2 MARSHAM ST, LONDON.

1 The European Commission has taken the first steps of infringment proceedings against the UK Government after complaints from Friends of the Earth and other environmental groups. The Commission is pursuing further information from the UK Government regarding possible breaches of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (85/337/EEC). Department of Transport contractors have already moved Dormice and bats from the route of the road. Both are species protected under the new European Union 'Habitats Directive'.

2 The Western by-pass proposed by the Department of Transport would plough through spectacular English countryside. It would damage internationally important wildlife habitats and designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), the best wildlife sites in the United Kingdom. Beautiful landscapes and historic areas would also be damaged. The A34 is a trunk road and part of the Trans-European Road Network, yet no formal Environmental Impact Assessment for the proposed by-pass was carried out.

The following organisations are opposed to the A34 Newbury by-pass: Friends of the Earth; Battlefields Trust; Berkshire Council for the Protection of Rural England; Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Naturalists Trust; Earth First; Newbury Friends of the Earth; Plantlife; Road Alert; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Third Battle of Newbury; Transport 2000; Worldwide Fund for Nature;

CONTACT: Simon Festing TEL: 071 566 1667 Neil Verlander - Press Office TEL

Jill Eisele TEL: 0488 608388 Susan Millington TEL: 0488 682817