Friends of the Earth Birmingham Action Briefing Oct-Nov 97

BNRR Update

By now you will have heard that the decision by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Transport has gone against us. On July 28th 1997 it was given the go-ahead at the end of the first review of the roads programme by this government. This was despite a strong commitment not to build it when Labour were in opposition. Even up to the last minute there was massive lobbying by local MP's for the government to stop the BNRR. There was an excellent campaign by local people in the last few weeks involving a trip to and invasion of John Prescott's offices in London. Mr. Prescott himself was heavily lobbied while in the Midlands to open the Hams Hall rail freight terminal. We have been told that our work helped to save other communities but failed to stop the BNRR. We were told that there were heavy penalty clauses written into the BNRR concession that would have left the government with a heavy bill if the BNRR had fallen at the public inquiry stage. Midland Expressway Ltd (a company formed by Kværner Ltd and Autostrada Ltd) now have the job of compulsory purchasing the land and buildings as well as building the road and operating it for 50 years once built.

Watch this and other Birmingham FOE newsletters for more information on the BNRR but we already know of the date for the first benefit gig for the campaign which is being held at The Bear in Bearwood on October 31st and will involve local up-and-coming band Bleeding Hearts and local comedian and star compere of the Retort, Mike Parker.

At the local groups' conference a 'No BNRR T-shirt' was raffled and raised around £100. A big hand to Hayley and Sally.

Beverly Cumblidge.