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Road Protest Movement UK 1990s

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The British Road Protesters movement began in the early 1990s when the Donga tribe squatted Twyford Down to save this beautiful site, a site of scientific interest SSI from the Ministry of transport's road building programme which threatened to destroy the landscape. The Dongas was the name of the ancient walkways, the paths trodden in the middle ages by people walking down to Winchester. A small tribe were joined by people of all walks of life who came to Twyford Down to defend it. A long hard battle over several years ended in the 'cutting' a new motorway built through this ancient monument and destroying it.

The Road Protest movement in Britain continued for many years and more battles were fought in London against the MII both at Wanstead then in Leytonstone, and subsequently at Newbury, and in Sussex. the protesters were very inventive in their use of non violent peaceful direct action. They barricaded themselves into squats, made tree houses, tunnels and have huge demonstrations against the bailliffs, police and security who tried to force their way through the defences of this alternative environmental popular movement. Many of the roads were built eventually and many sites of great beauty lost, but the government had to stand down from its road building policy and eventually the programme was halted. the protests cost the government billions. Out of that movement grew many environmental NGOs who have to this day kept fighting for ecological and sustainable environmental solutions rather than following the cult of the car, petrol and roadbuilding..

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  • UK Road Protest during 1990s (All )
    UK Road Protest during 1990s (All )
    162 images
    The British Road Protesters movement began in the early 1990s when the Donga tribe squatted Twyford Down to save this beautiful site, a site of scientific interest SSI from the Ministry of transport's road building programme which threatened to destroy the landscape. The Dongas was the name of the ancient walkways, the paths trodden in the middle ages by people walking down to Winchester. A small tribe were joined by people of all walks of life who came to Twyford Down to defend it. A long hard battle over several years ended in the 'cutting' a new motorway built through this ancient monument and destroying it. The Road Protest movement in Britain continued for many years and more battles were fought in London against the MII both at Wanstead then in Leytonstone, and subsequently at Newbury, and in Sussex. the protesters were very inventive in their use of non violent peaceful direct action. They barricaded themselves into squats, made tree houses, tunnels and have huge demonstrations against the bailliffs, police and security who tried to force their way through the defences of this alternative environmental popular movement. Many of the roads were built eventually and many sites of great beauty lost, but the government had to stand down from its road building policy and eventually the program was halted. the protests cost the government billions. Out of that movement grew many environmental NGOs who have to this day kept fighting for ecological and sustainable environmental solutions rather than following the cult of the car, petrol and roadbuilding..
  • Twyford Down Road protest  Winchester UK
    Twyford Down Road protest...
    44 images
    The British Road Protesters movement began in the early 1990s when the Donga tribe squatted Twyford Down to save this beautiful site, a site of scientific interest SSI from the Ministry of transport's road building programme which threatened to destroy the landscape. The Dongas was the name of the ancient walkways, the paths trodden in the middle ages by people walking down to Winchester. A small tribe were joined by people of all walks of life who came to Twyford Down to defend it. A long hard battle over several years ended in the 'cutting' a new motorway built through this ancient monument and destroying it. The Road Protest movement in Britain continued for many years and more battles were fought in London against the MII both at Wanstead then in Leytonstone, and subsequently at Newbury, and in Sussex. the protesters were very inventive in their use of non violent peaceful direct action. They barricaded themselves into squats, made tree houses, tunnels and have huge demonstrations against the bailliffs, police and security who tried to force their way through the defences of this alternative environmental popular movement. Many of the roads were built eventually and many sites of great beauty lost, but the government had to stand down from its road building policy and eventually the programme was halted. the protests cost the government billions. Out of that movement grew many environmental NGOs who have to this day kept fighting for ecological and sustainable environmental solutions rather than following the cult of the car, petrol and roadbuilding..
  • Stanworth Hockley Penmaenmawr Cradlewell Bypass: Various Road protest sitesU
    Stanworth Hockley Penmaenmawr...
    29 images
    Road Protesters and police confrontations at Cradlewell bypass within Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, England. In 1993 work began on a bypass for the Cradlewell area, replacing the very steep Benton Bank as the main thoroughfare. Road Protest actions around the M65 extension. This involved protecting and squatting a group of houses, and also squatting treehouses in the forest at Stanworth Valley Preston Lancashire. 1995. Treehouses on Road Protest actions around the M65 extension. This involved protecting and squatting a group of houses, and also squatting treehouses in the forest at Stanworth Valley Preston Lancashire. 1995
  • Wanstead London M11 Link Road protest
    Wanstead London M11 Link Road protest
    37 images
    The M11 link road protest was the start of a major anti-road protest in Wanstead and Leytonstone, in autumn 1993 opposing the construction of the M11 Link Road.
  • Claremont Road protest MII Link Leytonstone London
    Claremont Road protest MII Link...
    38 images
    Road protestors occupy the scaffolding tower and buildings as the eviction begins. Claremont Road, Leytonstone, London. Claremont Road, ran immediately next to the Central line, and was completely occupied by protesters. The road became a vibrant squatter community full of site specific art installations. 92-year-old Dolly Watson was an original resident refused the D.O.T's offer to move. She became friends with the road protesters, who named the watchtower, built from scaffold poles, after her.
  • The Land is Ours St George's Hill
    The Land is Ours St George's Hill
    9 images
    The Land is Ours is a British land rights campaign advocating access to the land, its resources, and the planning processes. The group was set up in 1995 by George Monbiot and others. Their first campaign was the occupation of the disused Wisley Airfield in Surrey by 400 people in 1995 from which there was a live broadcast on the BBC's Newsnight programme. Nearby St. George's Hill is symbolically significant as the site of a 1649 protest, when the Diggers planted vegetables on the common land there.
  • Donga Traveller Road Protester Lifestyle
    Donga Traveller Road Protester...
    41 images
    Donga Mass trespass. Road Protest actions at Twyford Down, near the Donga pathways, outside Winchester, against the M3 road extension. Summer 1993 The British Road Protesters movement began in the early 1990s when the Donga tribe squatted Twyford Down to save this beautiful site, a site of scientific interest SSI from the Ministry of transport's road building programme which threatened to destroy the landscape. The Dongas was the name of the ancient walkways, the paths trodden in the middle ages by people walking down to Winchester. A small tribe were joined by people of all walks of life who came to Twyford Down to defend it. A long hard battle over several years ended in the 'cutting' a new motorway built through this ancient monument and destroying it.
  • Pagan Druid Music Celebrations Ceremonies
    Pagan Druid Music Celebrations...
    28 images
    Druid ceremonies during Road Protest actions. Occupation of the Old Chesnut Tree on George Green. Road Protest site at George Green, Wanstead, London. The M11 link road protest was the start of a major anti-road protest in Wanstead and Leytonstone, in autumn 1993 opposing the construction of the M11 Link Road. It began with a protest to save the 250-year-old sweet chestnut tree that grew upon George Green. The British Road Protesters movement began in the early 1990s when the Donga tribe squatted Twyford Down to save this beautiful site, a site of scientific interest SSI from the Ministry of transport's road building programme which threatened to destroy the landscape. The Dongas was the name of the ancient walkways, the paths trodden in the middle ages by people walking down to Winchester. A small tribe were joined by people of all walks of life who came to Twyford Down to defend it. A long hard battle over several years ended in the 'cutting' a new motorway built through this ancient monument and destroying it.
  • Demonstrations Road protest UK MII M65 M3 etc
    Demonstrations Road protest UK MII...
    20 images
    Road Protest actions at Twyford Down, near the Donga pathways, outside Winchester, against the M3 road extension. 1992-94 The British Road Protesters movement began in the early 1990s when the Donga tribe squatted Twyford Down to save this beautiful site, a site of scientific interest SSI from the Ministry of transport's road building programme which threatened to destroy the landscape. The Dongas was the name of the ancient walkways, the paths trodden in the middle ages by people walking down to Winchester. A small tribe were joined by people of all walks of life who came to Twyford Down to defend it. A long hard battle over several years ended in the 'cutting' a new motorway built through this ancient monument and destroying it.

Nigel Dickinson

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