The Roadbreaker

During the 1980s and early 1990s a protest movement emerged against the Conservative government's plans to build a new road linking the M11 motorway to inner London.

Protests centred around the controversial demolition of terraced houses in Leytonstone and Wanstead. When construction of the road began in the early 1990s protestors resisted through a campaign of direct action. A combination of the original residents and squatters occupied the houses creating a stand off with the bailiffs. In 1994 the protestors set up the independent 'republics' of 'Wanstonia and 'Leytonstonia'. The campaign climaxed at Claremont Road where the last remaining squatters were evicted by bailiffs backed by large numbers of police.

The No M11 Link Road Campaign produced large amounts of publicity for their cause including 'The Roadbreaker' newsletter. The campaign attracted significant media coverage and inspired a wave of anti-road protests, such as that which took place against the Newbury bypass.