Locals protest about "M32 Berlin Wall"

Residents from Easton, St. Werburgh's and St. Paul's recently took over the M32/Ashley Road junction at 8am on a Monday morning to protest about the conditions faced by cyclists and pedestrians crossing the M32.

They complained that the present subway and high bridge crossings were dangerous, inconvenient and a muggers' paradise. Many people are nervous of using the motorway crossings, especially at night, and the M32 poses a very real barrier to cyclists and pedestrians, whose safety is compromised for the convenience of car commuters.

Local campaign group, Friends of Baptist Mills, who organised the event, want to see ground-level pedestrian crossings and are exploring some imaginative solutions to the M32 problem—for example, building a park across the sunken part of the motorway.

The protest set off with much shouting, singing and banner waving from the Baptist Mills side of the M32 then joined the slip road and did two unhurried circuits of the roundabout before breaking off.

It couldn't really be said that they held up the traffic, as it was choc-a-bloc anyway! But it was an effective action and got widespread and sympathetic coverage in the local press.

After the event, protestors who didn't have to get off to work were treated to coffee by the landlord of the Duke of Cambridge.

Friends of Baptist Mills are holding regular meetings—look out for signs in the area or email: livingeaston@blueyonder.co.uk.

M32 facts

Part of the M32 (from Eastville to Baptist Mills) covers the beautiful river Frome.

The Ashley Road/M32 junction is built on the site of the first commercially successful (river-powered) brass mill in England (circa 1702).