Archived press release
Go to our press releases area for our current press releases.
Newbury protestors ask Judge to suspend evictions
25 March 1996
A High Court judge will today (Tuesday 26 March) [1] be asked to consider"wholly exceptional circumstances" and delay possession orders on the"Ricketty Bridge" protest camp - on the path of the controversial Newbury bypass - following confirmation that a rare and endangered species of snail has been discovered in the area.
The snail, Desmoulin's Whorl Snail (Vertigo Moulinsiana), is protected under the European Habitats Directive which requires that the Government protect the best sites as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). According to Dr Martin Willing, a mollusc expert, who surveyed the area for FOE, the snails in the area around Ricketty Bridge are "one of the densest populations seen".
English Nature, the Government's nature advisers, have confirmed that they are investigating the site as a possible SAC, and Counsel for the protest camp will argue that the area should not be damaged - or the camp evicted- until the issue has been resolved.
Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth said:
"Whilst the Highway's Agency may have a legal right to take possession of the land, the judge will be asked to say that they do not have a legal right to build the road until protection of the snail has been resolved. This is the first salvo in a battle that may lead to the European Court of Justice."
If the site is designated as a SAC, the Highway's Agency will be obliged to carry out an assessment of the road's impact on the snail, and to consider alternatives to the road itself.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] To be heard in Chambers at the High Court at 10:30 am.
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
