Stop The Linslade Bypass

Bucks CC wasted £900k+ by not talking to protestors

Welcome to the Linslade Bypass Protest Site!

Bypass Protests Cost nearly £1m

Bucks CC has released figures revealing that the protests against the Linslade bypass cost it £901,563.21; £802,428.21 on security (including the eviction of empty treehouses) and £99,135 charged by the site clearance contractor for the delays to their work.

Wing bypass consultation dates

Bucks CC has announced consultation dates for the proposed Wing bypass. Three alternative routes are to be presented for consideration at Wing Village Hall from June 6th to June 11th 2006. A website is being set up to provide information as it becomes available.

First Anniversary of Protest Starting

To mark the first anniversary of our protest, FOE have reminded supporters to keep up the pressure for councils to deliver the promised improvements to local transport. See the press release.

Our friends in Essex, the Parklife campaign, have set up a tree camp and need volunteers. For more about Parklife see their website, this Indymedia article or this video. They're in Southend, Essex - 'phone 07817 182 394 for the camp.

Map of area affected by bypass (shown in orange)

Map showing area affected by the Bucks CC injunction (outline in blue)

25th May Launch of the Transport Strategy for North-East Buckinghamshire and South Bedfordshire

At a well-attended public meeting, Garrett Emerson from Bucks County Council confirmed that the council is now prepared to fund traffic management/calming in Wing, Stoke Hammond and Soulbury before the Linslade/Stoke Hammond bypass is completed - with consultation on measures to be taken later this year. This is a huge improvement from the situation in February where, at another public meeting, the same County Council insisted that measures to deal with the traffic in these villages could not happen until after the completion of the bypass.

Members of the public complained about poor public transport, congestion and poor planning; and Bucks admitted that there were no plans to make a safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists where the new dual carriageway meets the A418/A505 at Wing Hill. If you feel strongly about this, let Garrett Emerson (head of transportation, Bucks CC) know.

Aylesbury Magistrates Court, 16th May

Two women charged with aggravated trespass were today acquitted by the District Judge at Aylesbury Magistrates court. Victoria Harvey and Rebecca Lush, accused of preventing work by chaining themselves to a digger, had pleaded not guilty and were planning to produce evidence from the country's foremost bat expert to demonstrate that their actions had prevented Bucks CC and its contractors from performing criminal actions on 19th January.

Shocking incompetence by the prosecution, however, led to their acquittal by the judge after police and video evidence failed to show that an offence had been committed. Costs, for a case scheduled to last two days, were awarded to Ms Harvey and Ms Lush.

Victoria Harvey of South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth, said:

"We are furious that we have been robbed of our opportunity to expose how Bucks County Council have rode roughshod over the wildlife laws. We had all the evidence to prove that Bucks County Council had given the merest nod towards obeying the laws.

"We knew the council was not complying with wildlife laws, but could do nothing about it. The direct action we took was the only way we could actually stop what was happening."

See today's daily bulletin for an account of the court proceedings. Click here for a copy of the bat report.

Saturday 12th February

Public debate on the bypass saw the meeting swing AGAINST the bypass after hearing arguments from both sides.

Tuesday 15th February

Major eviction exercise thwarted by midnight evacuation of camp. Major tree-felling along bypass route and erection of security fence and surveillance equipment.

Please contact Victoria on 01525 385097 and 07815 817108 and vharvey@btopenworld.com for more info.

You can also visit www.roadblock.org.uk

Click here to see pictures of the proposed bypass site - see what will be destroyed if the bypass goes ahead!!

There is a yahoo group for local campaign activists - to request membership, click here.

Hits since 17th January 2005
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