area chalk lying directly southeast winchester hampshire england situated near settlement pre roman times hosted fort chapel popular 17th 18th century coaching route site major road protest completion section motorway london south coast england plans 1970s replace earlier 1930s built bypass winchester regularly design features date problematic lack available land catherine hill public inquiries particularly problems water meadows near college route chosen took motorway ultimately cutting protesting ongoing early 1970s protest action described controversial british motorway project start construction attracted wider group classes people previously case included physical violence security officers motorway completed planned provided important link continuous motorway ports protests attracted interest national media drew attention form campaigning subsequent road schemes altered greater account environment cancelled altogether protesters subsequently went form campaign groups history sits southeast winchester northeast winchester east metre summit known hill north eastern edge area renowned dramatic rolling scenery rich grassland history traced pre roman times run series known resulted farmers animals surrounding markets hill centre identified human settlement years ago pre dates foundation winchester 3rd century fort constructed hill 12th norman chapel constructed site middle ages paths formed trail winchester normandy portsmouth commemorated modern pilgrims trail crosses noted main coaching route london southampton ran going directly avoiding winchester remained main coaching route alternative route winchester formed time 19th century area known nearby village established private members club motorway extension background outline strategic planning route later known motorway begun late 1930s route link london order reduce pressure detailed planning phase construction miles section thames began miles section separated opened june followed section opened july second phase extend motorway miles southwards winchester ending planning began public inquiry held set line motorway second section opened final phase extend motorway winchester southampton motorway northern section impact winchester bypass winchester traffic years major routes passed historic city centre including smaller routes like 1930s pass planned east city passing immediately west catherine hill opening traffic february construction controversial affected offered partial solution congestion people calling instead pass north west winchester 1930s road construction project bypass built contemporary standards including grade crossings time progressed bypass roads improved higher standards particularly opening following year meant long distance traffic opposed merely london southampton bypass described bypass utterly inadequate dangerous everybody lives near winchester agree accident figures new motorway relieve traffic needed crossing bar end grade separated junction remained key point congestion public inquiries point option going considered alignment proposed lane motorway lines direction run valley roughly west existing lane bypass require realignment navigation water meadows screening motorway pedestrian access catherine hill city proposals gone public inquiries respectively line order inquiry considered proposed route motorway government approved route second inquiry consider stopping roads compulsory purchase orders land needed build motorway inquiry particular drawn significant objection protesters including masters argued parliament support scheme pointing winchester cut construction old bypass growth meant improved links london increasingly essential eventually rejected intensifying local pollution disturbance secretary stated route fixed far bar end north catherine hill route undergo fresh study specifically stating winchester bypass continue operational construction new road environmental matters key concern february consulting engineers anderson submitted recommendation complete following completion motorway bar end summer junction set traffic lights london southampton trouble purchasing land required complete route past winchester land required east city owned refused sell land government water meadow desired route chosen avoid catherine hill pass south proposals tunnel estimated cost million estimated cost cutting government dismissed plans final route chosen ran south taking hectares acres approximately went public inquiry planning officer described route bold imaginative solution february improved southampton soon work began clearing route contract stipulated old bypass removed restored nature restoring direct access catherine hill physical protests protests completion ongoing formation group gathered petition winchester residents group active distributing local community march travellers pitched camp discovered local contract meaning land sitting soon excavated response noting public inquiries failed stop construction decided gather support environmental organisations attempted high_court stating road government environmental protection laws dropped case august head protest group said come depend disappointed principal arguments protesters concern making wildlife species butterfly extinct putting highly visible landscape believed new motorway adequately resolve traffic problems protesters demonstrated opposition road construction blocking path construction equipment generally involving physical met security officers december view film crew observer assaulted officers according report local officers left unconscious minutes mature photography student took numerous photographs protest challenged injunction suggested involved direct action lord justice admitted evidence suggest photographs injunction upheld stayed september night later claimed horrific experience violent dragged kicked punched pulled hair march minister roads traffic refused order inquiry wrongdoing excessive force security officers stating matter police protest attracted different classes people majority peaceful according popular phrase protesting thought find like involved original 1970s protest decided early excessive force protesters started keeping log events log defending protesters court visited imprisoned offered bail subsequently established legal precedent right protesters witness questioned outcome motorway section eventually constructed completed route motorway removed traffic earlier allowing closure significantly reduced heavy traffic volumes village interviewed independent local residents said removal transformed place adding catherine hill cut winchester open peaceful countryside wonderful loss hectares acres land old route planted hectares acres species rich grassland supervision monitoring government committee concluded building roads encourages traffic way ease congestion pollution measures control car use accommodate labour came power road schemes cancelled mounted legal action preserve area grassland created route old winchester bypass land lost motorway threatened park ride site legal action failed claimed betrayed second time land provided received compensation increased traffic noise explained noise comes straight close change life having perpetual background noise year veterans protest threatened new campaign direct action response new road building proposals government recently unveiled year transport plan went found veteran road believes efforts protesting took active role confronting security officers crawling razor wire helped later road schemes planned greater consideration environment original protesters returned hold 20th anniversary celebration protest western having previously designated area outstanding natural beauty
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