September 28, 2012

The Twyford Down M3 protest in 1992 – in pictures

The first road protesters camped on Twyford Down to stop the M3 extension 20 years ago. Guardian photographers captured the protests that followed

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — Unemployed youths calling themselves 'Dongas' set up set up camp above Winchester to protect the downland
Photograph: Alex MacNaughton Photograph: Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — The new route for the M3 was expected to save motorists a few minutes between London and Southampton Photograph: Frank Martin/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — By Christmas the Dongas were using every tactic they could to stop work, including occupying roadbuilders' machinery
Photograph: Alex MacNaughton Photograph: Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — More and more people came to the vast cutting through the chalk hill Photograph: Frank Martin/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — The protests turned nasty as security guards dragged people off the site. Many protesters complained of being beaten Photograph: Robin Mayes/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — By the spring of 1993, the cutting was nearly complete but the police kept a constant presence Photograph: Robin Mayes/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — Protests stepped up as Twyford Down became an environmental cause and political opposition mounted Photograph: Robin Mayes/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — Work was constantly hampered as direct action became the most effective way to stop the road
Photograph: Alex MacNaughton Photograph: Alex McNaughten/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — By early summer, hundreds of people were joining the Dongas to protest at weekends
Photograph: Alex MacNaughton Photograph: Alex Macnaughton/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — The M3 cutting was complete by mid-summer. Many were shocked by the scale of the destruction Photograph: Alan Reevell/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — Last minute attempts were made in the London courts to stop the road Photograph: Martin Argles/Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — The protests began to spread to London and other places where roads were planned Photograph: Guardian

Twyford Down: protest against M3 extension — The Twyford protests are acknowledged to have started the British road protests which led directly to anti-globalisation, climate change and anti-capitalist actions Photograph: Andrew Testa/Guardian

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