Global News - July 2007

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Poland delays building controversial road

Tue 31 July 2007 16:45 UK — Europe

In the face of pressure from the European Union and a number of wildlife experts, the Polish government has backed down on controversial plans to build a road through an area which supports rare plants and animals.

As part of a scheme to build a bypass around that town of Augustow, a new road was going to be constructed through a peat bog in the Rospuda river valley - home to rare wolves, lynx, eagles and other birds.

However, the Polish government found itself under pressure to scrap the plan as the area was protected by the EU.

On Monday (July 30th), the EU said that it was seeking an injunction to legally prevent the work starting in a bid to protect the rare animals.

Earlier today (July 31st), the Polish prime minister, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, told local radio that the proposed road plans would be put on hold until the dispute with the EU had been resolved.

According to the International Herald Tribune, Mr Kaczynski said: "The work in the Rospuda Valley is not beginning.

"I wanted to persuade our partners in the European Commission to approve the matter," he explained.

Environmental activists welcomed the delay, but said that they would remain on alert until the plans were completely scrapped and the area was safe.

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