Sunday 10th January 1999 was the first reunion event since the bypass had opened (it opened nov '98), and marking three years since destruction work had starting on the road. Previous re-unions had seen large scale direct action but this time most people expected a quiet day - but really the opportunity was too good to miss, a chance to say again that this was an outdated destructive and crass road scheme, that opposition was still there.
And so people took to the new road... (see links at end for reports)
A beautiful evening for road reclaiming
People have taken the road and stopped the traffic
Police mobilise, slowly, in straight lines
People all over the place
Walking and dancing the road route
Carriageway leapfrog, and a bit of bulldog
Bypass well and truly closed
Cops get annoyed with looking stupid and being blocked in by us
And start arresting a few people
But it's mostly good natured from us
Cops get a bit more hectic and call in riot squad
But still people remain chill - "no officer i'm fine here"
It almost looked beautiful - well at least peaceful, if only for a moment...
Goons stood about - we'd reversed direction...
Left some obstacles...
And walked into the sunset...
The road was closed all night and into the next day.
Action Report from Merrick:
http://www.godhaven.org.uk/newbury99.html SchNEWS Action Report:
http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news197.htm Picture from SQUALL:
http://www.squall.co.uk/pic.cfm/ses/sq=2001112022/ct=36 BBC News Item:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/252313.stm
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old guardian article
11.01.2006 12:39
John Vidal on how 250 people returned to site of bitter protest
Monday January 11, 1999
The Guardian
How do you stop 250 people walking into the middle of one of Britain's major trunk roads, lying down and then drawing hedgehogs all over the fast lane?
Yesterday, Thames Valley police hadn't a clue, letting crowds of gaudy environmentalists, pillars of Berkshire society, children and dogs occupy the controversial Newbury bypass for most of the afternoon. It remained closed late last night.
As some protesters climbed the trees which they had been dragged out of two years ago and hung banners across bridges, others turned the £74 million road into an all-singing, all-dancing art work. The bypass this morning has dozens of new bike lanes and warning signs scrawled in the tarmac saying Defy or Die and On Your Bike.
Article continues
For many of the police and the protesters, the return to the bypass was the first since the evictions in 1996, an emotional and highly charged affair.
More than 1,000 arrests were made in Britain's most notorious road protest which cost £25 million to police and guard. It is believed widely to have persuaded first the Conservative government and then Labour to radically rethink the road building programme.
'It's like a school reunion party, except you find that none of your friends have become estate agents,' said one protester watching what has been billed as the pedestrians' opening of the road or the First Reunion Party of the protesters.
'Sorry, mate,' said another to BMW driver Simon Smith and family caught in a long traffic line and very late for Sunday lunch. 'This is where we used to live, you know. No, really right here. This was a tree.'
Mr Smith looked worried. Not so a lorry driver who decided on direct action, driving straight into the party, sending the protesters jumping and almost causing a third death on the road which in six weeks has seen two deaths, several serious accidents and been declared 'dangerous' by the police.
There followed the protesters' sports day. This included the four-mile slow stroll, musical cheers and a new event called Leapfrog the Police.
As the constabulary lined up across the carriageways, the protesters ran past them with the police in turn retreating behind them. This went on several times until both sides set up roadblocks. It ended in a good-natured stalemate with no one sure what to do next.
'This is the most beautiful sight I've ever seen,' said an onlooker on the embankment. 'It's a bloody nonsense,' said one policeman. 'I suppose you are going to make this an annual event?'
'Too right. See you next year,' he was told.
A police spokesman said four people were arrested for obstruction of the highway and further arrests were expected.
He added: 'They showed total contempt for the safety of motorists.'
me