Demolition work started today on the route of the controversial A34 Newbury Bypass with contractors making early morning moves to demolish the five buildings that lie in the path of the road.

The Highways Agency today confirmed that contracts have not yet been signed for construction of the road and environmentalists have seen the demolition as a means of limiting the opportunity for direct action campaigners to interfere with road construction.

Friends of the Earth has denounced the demolition of the buildings as highly premature not least because of an active complaint with the European Commission regarding the failure to implement a full environmental impact assessment of the road.

Tony Juniper, Campaigns Director at Friends of the Earth said:

"Extraordinary cheek is being exercised by the Department of Transport in using these spoiling tactics. They have already trashed the habitat of rare bats, removed protected dormice and cut down some trees. If their aim is to remove everything worth defending on the route of the road, the next objective will probably be to trash the sites of special scientific interest".

"More taxpayer's money is being used to construct a monstrously destructive road that is illegal and which no one has even agreed to build".

Campaigners from the local Third Battle of Newbury group and the organisation Road Alert are using direct but peaceful action to delay the contractor's destruction of the Gatehouse at the Mary Hare School (which is located just to the north of Snelsmore Common site of special scientific interest (SSSI). It is close to the existing A34 and on the Oxford Road going out from Newbury).

Tim Allman of Road Alert said

"We are preparing to stop any work on the route of the road and uphold EU law by peaceful direct action. The Government will be well advised to back off".