Stop The Linslade Bypass

Press Release, Wednesday 1st February 2005:

LINSLADE BYPASS CAMPAIGNERS WIN FIRST STAGE OF HIGH COURT INJUNCTION CHALLENGE

FoE South Bedfordshire

Campaigners against the Stoke Hammond - Linslade Bypass [1] today won a significant victory in the High Court, by having the terms of an Injunction granted against "Persons Unknown" on Friday 28th January, radically changed to allow local residents to continue protesting. Whereas the far reaching Order had banned anyone from land, footpaths and highways "in connection with opposition to or protest against the construction of the bypass" (effectively banning all protest), it has been changed to allow "any reasonable activity... including observing and protesting against the construction of the ... Bypass" along the main road.

The original draconian Order was granted to Buckinghamshire County Council in a secret hearing on Friday 28th January, and was served at 7pm, effectively stopping anyone being able to seek legal advice over the weekend. Anyone wishing to challenge it had only 7 working hours, until 4pm yesterday to draft a Defence. Campaigners attended the High Court today, when the Injunction Order was reviewed.

With last minute representation given free of charge by Bindmans Solicitors and Alison Jerry of Doughty Street Chambers, the compromise was achieved between Buckinghamshire County Council and campaigners, to enable the protests along the road to continue. However if they take just a couple of steps off the main road or footpath they risk being throwen in prison or having all their assets seized. This also affects the press as if they are there to interview the protestors, they are there in "connection with opposition to the bypass" and are also affected by the injunction. . Campaigners have been maintaining a constant presence at the Bypass works for over two weeks [2]. They are particularly concerned that trees that are potential bat roosts are being felled without due regard to strict wildlife legislation [3].

Also today campaigners hung a banner saying "Challenge Car Culture" opposite the Aylesbury HQ of Buckinghamshire County Council. This occurred at the same time as Garrett Emmerson, Head of Transportation and Planning for Buckinghamshire, was having meetings with Bedfordshire County Council about the Bypass.

Victoria Harvey of South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth said:

"This is a great victory for the freedom to protest. Buckinghamshire County Council's original ban befits a totalitarian state not a supposedly democratic one. "In connection with opposition to and or protest against the construction of a bypass" is a very wide reaching term. It could easily mean that if anyone with a anti-bypass sticker in their car had driven between Linslade and Soulbury they would have risked being thrown in prison. We are now at least allowed to protest by the roadside, although the protestors are continually filmed by police and security guards. It has to be remembered that under this government you can now be arrested for handing out a leaflet or for having an assembly of more than two persons."

" Many of the people on the demonstrations have never publicly protested about anything before, they are nearly all local people, mothers with children etc. We believe that Buckinghamshire is using this injunction to intimidate people and frighten off any opposition. 1982 was the last public consultation on this bypass and people feel that peaceful protest is the only way to have their views heard. There are plenty of existing laws and severe penalties in order to stop people halting lawful work, so why do they have to have to use this terrifying and sweeping Injunction. So far Prescott 's Sustainable Communities has meant roads, airports, and an end to individual freedoms.

It is an interesting coincidence that as funding for the bypass was announced, the buses in Linslade were halved. Is Prescott and Buckinghamshire CC aiming to shift people back to their cars away from public transport?"

Local residents have set up a website for the protest at www.linsladeprotest.org.uk

Contact: South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth: Victoria Harvey on 01525 385 097 and 07815 817108 or vharvey@btopenworld.com

Notes to Editors
[1] The £50 million Stoke Hammond and Linslade Western Bypass is the first of four bypasses, which will provide a dual carriageway between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury. This is in one of the Government's 'growth areas', with Milton Keynes set to have 44,000 new homes by 2021, South Bedfordshire 26,000, and Aylesbury 15,000. Protesters believe that it is the first piece of infrastructure to pave the way for the huge housing development planned for the 'Growth Area'.
[2] South Bedfordshire Friends of the Earth, and others, have opposed this scheme for years, including through the 2003 Public Inquiry. The protest started on 17th January when clearance work was due to start on the scheme. Sixty local residents turned out to oppose the bulldozers. Work was temporarily suspended when two women chained themselves to a digger to prevent illegal felling of trees. A constant vigil has been kept up by local residents, with a treehouse and camp established on 23rd January. Local residents have been engaged in conducting surveys of local residents' views, and leafleting. A Public Meeting is also being organised, in contrast with the last consultation by Buckinghamshire County Council in 1982.
[3] Covered under the Conservation Regulations 1994, implementing the EU Habitats Directive. The Council are allowing contractors to fell trees without the required surveying by qualified bat specialists. They have also not applied for the required licences from DEFRA.