Friends of the Earth [1] today launched a major new interactive environmental campaign on the global Internet. A hot map' of the route of the controversial Newbury Bypass, and an action petition' for people to sign to stop the road are now accessible to anyone with a connection to the Internet [2].

On his last day as Minister for Transport Brian Mawhinney gave the go-ahead to the environmentally destructive A34 Newbury Bypass road scheme, despite there being five nationally important areas lying in the path of the proposed route [3].

Susan Pipes, Environmental Data Unit Manager at Friends of the Earth said:

"Extensive information about the Newbury Bypass Campaign on the Internet includes a hot map of the proposed road with hyper-text' links to descriptions and photographs of the threatened areas. Up to the minute information issued by Friends of the Earth sets out why the route is unacceptable and informs the public of the significant flaws in the Highways Agency's review of the bypass, including the fact that no attempt was made to look at alternatives to road building."

Simon Festing, Habitats Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

"The Government has sanctioned the destruction of countless wildlife habitats along the route of this major trunk road. Now the whole country can witness this planned destruction of our natural heritage."

He continued

"Anyone who signs our petition on the Internet could be helping to save our precious countryside. These wild places are home to rare animals like the dormouse and the kingfisher."

The campaign can be accessed at /action/newbury/action.html [4]

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Friends of the Earth is one of the UK's leading environmental pressure groups, campaigning on a wide range of local, national and international environmental issues, with a network of over 250 local groups.

[2] The Internet is a vast collection of computer networks reaching into companies, governments, universities, schools and homes worldwide. It can be accessed in over 100 countries. The Internet is the "superhighway" which connects over 18,000 separate networks, 3 million computers and about 30 million regular users. Current estimates indicate that the Internet is now doubling in size every five months. The Internet provides a fast and reliable means of electronic communication with people around the world. It offers services such as electronic mail, file transfer, electronic information publishing, news and subject-oriented discussions.

[3] There is widespread recognition that, if built, the A34 Newbury bypass will be one of the most environmentally destructive roads in the country. The road scheme is set to plough through spectacular English countryside, and would:

Destroy part of Snelsmore Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and one of the best remaining heathlands in Berkshire;

Cause flooding of the river Kennet (designated a SSSI), so threatening protected species like the Kingfisher and Hobby;

Wreck the idyllic rural atmosphere in the picturesque village of Bagnor and the acclaimed Watermill Theatre;

Damage the river Lambourn (approved SSSI), and the local nature reserve Rack Marsh, a habitat for protected wildlife;

Destroy the unique setting of the Historic Garden at Donnington Grove and Donnington Castle, a Scheduled Ancient Monument;

Pass through the recently registered site of the First Battle of Newbury;

Run through the middle of Reddings Copse which harbours bats and dormice;

Pass through the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

[4] Friends of the Earth FOEnet World Wide Web server can be found on the Internet at the following address: http://www.foe.co.uk

Friends of the Earth acknowledges the support of Sun Microsystems (UK) Ltd who kindly donated a SPARCserver 20 computer for use in the FOEnet project.