Archived press release

REPORT EXPOSES LOCAL LIB DEMS OVER NEWBURY BYPASS

25 July 1996

NEW REPORT EXPOSES LOCAL LIBERAL DEMOCRATS OVER NEWBURY BYPASS

A new report from Newbury Friends of the Earth demonstrates how Liberal Democrats in Newbury, including the local MP Mr David Rendel,systematically ignored their own party policies as well as expert evidence on the Newbury bypass. [1]

The report - Bypassing The Truth' - points out that the Liberal Democrats have excellent transport policies, but failed to apply these in the case of the Newbury bypass. Specifically, the Liberal Democrats:

Greatly misrepresented the so-called democratic procedures' of choosing the Newbury bypass, which were heavily weighted towards road-building;

Claimed that traffic management solutions were considered and tried as alternatives to the bypass, although this is not the case;

Ignored expert evidence about new traffic generated by road building;

Grossly exaggerated the benefits of the bypass, and refused to accept the changed circumstances relevant to the Newbury bypass;

Misled the public about the extent of environmental damage, without acknowledging the lack of a proper environmental impact assessment for the bypass route;

The report comes a week after Liberal Democrat led Salisbury District Council called for the public inquiry into the town's controversial bypass to be re-opened. [2] The Salisbury Bypass is just one of a number of proposed bypasses that could test the Liberal Democrat commitment to environmental protection [3].

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

"Local Liberal Democrats repeatedly ignored their own party policy in the debate over the Newbury Bypass. If they had followed the same principles, as were followed in Salisbury, months of conflict and the despoliation of five of Britains best conservation sites could have been avoided. Mr Chidgey must ensure that national party policy is followed throughout the UK, if the Party is to avoid a series of embarrassing battles with environmentalists." ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] Bypassing the Truth: The Liberal Democrats and the Newbury Bypass' is 12 pages long and has extensive quotation from the Liberal Democrats in Newbury and their party policies, as well as 73 references.

[2] Salisbury District Council - led by the Liberal Democrats - voted on the 15 July at a full Council meeting 35-17 in favour of a re-opening of the public inquiry into the Salisbury bypass. The resolution was as follows:

"That this Council calls upon the joint Secretaries of State to reopen the Public Inquiry into the proposed A36 Salisbury bypass so that new information relating to the environmental impact of such a scheme may be considered; and furthermore

This Council resolves immediately to both seek and promote funding for individual traffic management and other alternative transport strategies (including relief roads), that will alleviate the problems currently experienced by those communities in Salisbury District that are on the route on the A36 trunk road".

In a press release from the Liberal Democrat Party of 16 July 1996,David Chidgey said "I welcome Salisbury's decision to seek a review of the bypass proposals, particularly the overall environmental impact.There are strong concerns that the proposed scheme would not relieve congestion and pollution in Salisbury... Liberal Democrats are pressing nationally for measures to attract road freight to rail. Local Authorities should be able to determine the need for local bypasses within that strategy."

[3] Local Liberal Democrats are known, for example, to support the following controversial bypasses:

Hastings Bypass, Hereford Bypass, Kidderminster and Blakedown and Hagley Bypass, Weymouth Relief Road.

*********************************************************** Bypassing the Truth: The Liberal Democrats and the Newbury Bypass'(12 pages, 73 references) is available for 1.00 from Friends of the Earth. Order from Publications Despatch, Friends of the Earth, 56-58 Alma St, Luton, LU1 2PH, or by Telephone - 01582 482297 (2 - 4pm).

The report is being launched simultaneously on the Internet on Thursday 25 July 1996.

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