London Indymedia

Newbury 1999: 'End of the Road Reunion Rally' (old pics)

Mistey Eyed | 10.01.2006 19:00 | Ecology | Free Spaces | London | Oxford

After the reunion reports published on Indymedia about it being 10 years since work started on the Newbury Bypass, and the recent reports revealing the larger than expected traffic growth, I thought I'd dig out a few pictures of today, seven years ago at Newbury and the "End of the Road Reunion Rally"...

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people expected a quiet day - but really the opportunity was too good to miss, a chance to say again that this was an outdated destructive and crass road scheme, that opposition was still there.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
A beautiful evening for road reclaiming

People have taken the road and stopped the traffic
People have taken the road and stopped the traffic

Police mobilise, slowly, in straight lines
Police mobilise, slowly, in straight lines

People all over the place
People all over the place

Walking and dancing the road route
Walking and dancing the road route

Carriageway leapfrog, and a bit of bulldog
Carriageway leapfrog, and a bit of bulldog

Bypass well and truly closed
Bypass well and truly closed

Cops get annoyed with looking stupid and being blocked in by us
Cops get annoyed with looking stupid and being blocked in by us

And start arresting a few people
And start arresting a few people

But it's mostly good natured from us
But it's mostly good natured from us

Cops get a bit more hectic and call in riot squad
Cops get a bit more hectic and call in riot squad

But still people remain chill - "no officer i'm fine here"
But still people remain chill - "no officer i'm fine here"

It almost looked beautiful - well at least peaceful, if only for a moment...
It almost looked beautiful - well at least peaceful, if only for a moment...

Goons stood about - we'd reversed direction...
Goons stood about - we'd reversed direction...

Left some obstacles...
Left some obstacles...

And walked into the sunset...
And walked into the sunset...

The road was closed all night and into the next day.
The road was closed all night and into the next day.


See following for more 1997 'End of the Road Reunion Rally' info...

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

Mistey Eyed

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  1. old guardian article — me

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