Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Newbury Bypass "may be scrapped"
24 January 1996
The Newbury Bypass may be scrapped according to leading sources in the construction industry [1]. Soaring costs [2] and growing opposition have led some contractors to believe that the controversial new road may now be scrapped.
Reports quote one of the six bidders as saying "I'm not sure local people are keen on the scheme and I get a feeling of a change in its political worth. Put that with the possibility of a high tender price and I'm not sure it will go ahead". Another bidder warned that subcontractors had refused to tender for packages of work "some subbies have already pulled out after seeing the protests in the newspapers"
Tony Juniper, Deputy Campaigns Director of Friends of the Earth said:
"This road is a financial and environmental disaster. The Government can save face and taxpayers money by cancelling this scheme now and investing in real and environmentally sensitive solutions to Newburys traffic problems".
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] Construction News 18 January 1995
[2] According to Construction News, contractors believe that the bypass will cost at least o80 million - o20 million more than when it was originally tendered in 1994. Increases in costs include rising materials prices, hardening sub-contract prices and a move away from negative margin-bidding.
If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.
Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
