Immediate Release Friday 10th January 1997

On Saturday 11th January 1997 people will gather for a Rally to commemorate the anniversary of the start of clearance work on the Newbury Bypass. Speakers at the rally include Tony Benn M.P; Charles Secrett, Director of Friends of the Earth; Rowan Tilly of Seeds of Hope - Ploughshares; and Jill Eisele of The Third Battle of Newbury. Prior to the rally people will decorate the bypass fencing at a compound next to the rally site. After the rally people will form a human chain along the bypass route. A ten foot high razor wire topped fenced lines the 9 mile route, forming numerous guarded compounds.

Programme:

10.15 a.m. From 10.15 onwards people arrive by train, bus, etc. at Newbury train station and walk to the rally site. One hour walk to rally site and Middle Oak Compound. Decoration of fencing at Middle Oak Compound (junction of A4/B4000 1/2 mile west of Newbury).

2.00 p.m. Speeches at Rally site

Introduction: Rachel Stark, Green Party

Speeches: Charles Secrett, Tony Benn M.P,

Rowan Tilly, Jill Eisele

2.40 p.m. People move to Middle Oak Compound to finish fence decoration and to surround the compound

3.00 p.m. Joining of hands around Middle Oak compound. Two minute silence

3.02 p.m. END of rally. People leave site, some people may continue fence decoration.

ENDS

Editors Notes
Interviews with individual speakers at Rally Site: 1.00 p.m. - Charles Secrett, Rowan Tilly, Jill Eisele. 1.15 p.m. - Tony Benn. 1.30 p.m - Press Conference, all speakers until 1.50 p.m. Speakers intend to decorate fence immediately after speeches.

On-site Press Liaison call Andrew Wood