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Parishioners will recall that the Highways agency planned to
widen the section of the M1 passing through our parish, to no
less than six lanes in each direction. To accommodate this,
their plans included the demolition of the existing M1 Bridge
(after replacing it with a reconstructed bridge on the north
side), and also demolition of a number of homes in the area.
Furthermore, a massive flyover would have to be built to carry
southbound M1 traffic to the newly constructed M69 Junction.
It had been likened to another Spaghetti Junction. The HA also
failed to make a very good job of telling anyone in the parish
about it (some might say they deliberately tried to conceal
the fact).
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A number of
Herbert's supporters (some of who are pictured here),
held banners...
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...and some
wore masks to protect themselves from the already high
levels of pollution.
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Herbert, maintains
that widening the M1 would simply encourage traffic to
increase to unacceptable levels on an already very busy
section of motorway.
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His alternatives include rejuvenation of the railways, and
removing the need/desire to transport vast quantities of goods
(and people) across great distances, thereby reducing traffic
(and pollution) naturally.
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Quinten, for
the BBC, interviewed Mr. Eppel on Live regional TV at
about 12:40pm and then proceeded to make recorded interviews
for regional news programs.
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Also present were ITV reporters who carried out their own interviews
of Mr. Eppel, and a number of his supporters who were present.
Although the demonstration was completely peaceful and no laws
were compromised by the supporters in any way, the police present
apparently felt it necessary to record video footage of the
events. One member of the public, feeling his personal rights
were being compromised, challenged the officers to state why
they were recording these events. They explained the footage
could be used to make comparisons with those present, against
other events where disturbances had occurred.
More information can be found on the No Widening M1 internet
site, at www.nowideningm1.org.uk
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