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Public says Newbury Bypass should halt to save snail.
16 February 1996
80 per cent of those responding to a national telephone survey believe that the Newbury bypass should be cancelled because of the discovery of colonies of rare miniature snails in the path of the proposed road [1].
A Teletext Telephone Call-in run on 15th February showed 80 per cent of those responding would stop the road to save the snail [2]. Desmoulin's Whorl Snail is a tiny gastropod that lives in swampy grasslands. It is believed to be rather scarce and requires protection under the European Union's Habitats Directive.
Tony Juniper, Deputy Director of Friends of the Earth said:
"The politicians who decided to build this mad road have seriously misjudged public opposition to it. People have had enough of protected countryside and its unique wildlife being trashed and buried under concrete. The Government should do what taxpayers want and cancel it".
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The Teletext question was: "Should a tiny rare snail halt the controversial Newbury bypass?" Callers were asked to vote either Yes or No.
[2] 1,177 people telephoned the Call-in on 15th February.
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust
Last modified: Sep 2008
