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"The Newbury bypass changed the way Britain looked at road building"

Paul Clifton looks back at the real impact of the protests on government policy.

"More than 800 people were arrested, using 600 security guards, the cost - one fifth of the total cost of building the road.

"The protesters lost the battle of Newbury, but did they win the war? In the 20 years since then the only big new roads in the south of England have been the Hindhead tunnel, and the Weymouth relief road.

"It virtually halted road building for a generation."

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Duration:

4 minutes