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We open with views of farmland and countryside that is under threat in the new M40 motorway project. These shots include a time lapse of farmland through the seasons (Oxford Scientific Films). Work is due to start on the road in late 1987 and a graphic is used to show the propose route through Oxfordshire and North Warwickshire. We then see views of the Warmington valley and the Oxford to Birmingham canal where the road will cut through. The background to the new road is illustrated with an archive section that shows changes to transport networks. We begin with b/w stills of the construction of the Oxford to Birmingham canal followed by b/w archive showing pre-war railway scenes, a modern shot of a derelict railway bridge, b/w archive of pre-war car construction at the Morris factory and 1960s assembly lines at Longbridge (the latter is from ATV) and further 1960s shots of a traffic jam and aerial view of a motorway under construction. B/w archive from ITN shows extracts from the speech by Ernest Marples on the opening of the M1 in 1959. A b/w shot of an early motorway cuts to today’s busy and overcrowded motorway network. Britain has become a nation of motorists as first the canal and then the railway network went into decline.
A graphic shows the UK motorway network indicating the new M40. Interview with Richard Bate of the CPRE (he is interviewed in Warmington in Warwickshire) about the effects on the local community of the new motorway. We then see the planners from the Department of Transport viewing the site from the grounds of Farnborough Hall in Warwickshire. Interview with Tony Holland, the deputy director of the Dept of Transport for the West Midlands about the need for the motorway to relieve towns and villages of traffic. Aerial views of countryside and the town of Warmington. Interview with landscape architect Barry Moore about the use of earth mounds and tree planting to lessen the impact of the new road. Interview with the M40 project manager, Tim Jacob about the way the road will cross the railway.
Views of dawn breaking at Kings’s Sutton in Northamptonshire which is close to the Oxfordshire border and is another area of natural beauty under threat (also images of a Kingfisher from Oxford Scientific Films). There are also shots of a farmer with cattle and a distant view of the King’s Sutton church spire. This area of natural beauty will be altered forever due to the need for the motorway to cross the River Cherwell at this point. We then see Banbury cattle market and busy traffic in the town. The M40 is expected to take traffic away from this bottle neck. We then see further time-lapse shots of traffic in Banbury (Oxford Scientific Films) (cut to music). Further interview with Richard Bate of the CPRE about their fears for the rural area and an increase in the numbers of commuters.
View of a new housing development. Interview with Leslie Rendell who is the director of planning and transportation for Warwickshire County Council about a plan by the council into the impact of the new road. Finally we see newspaper cuttings that relate to the jump in house prices that were experienced by people living along the route of the M4 and further scenic shots of the M40 site.
Commentary by James Bellini
Camera: Bob Bolt; Kevin Latimer; Peter Greenhalgh
Timelapse and specialist photography by Oxford Scientific Films
Sound: Steve Phillips; Phil Middleham; Mel Marr
Dubbing Mixer: Robin Ward
Graphics: Brian Becker
Production Assistants: Annette Cunningham; Karen Davies; Jenny Wright
Research: Nick Davidson; Kathleen Darby
Film Editor: Derek Hall
Executive Producer: Robin Brown
Producer: Vivica Parsons
Directed by Paul Cleary
Production number 7309/86.