The European Commission's Ombudsman decides to admit a complaint that could lead to formal proceedings against the Government for breaches of environmental directives. But the road does not bypass the nation's heritage In 1995, the River Lambourn is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The road goes over the SSSI and will obliterate adjacent marshland nature reserve and flood plain habitats under embankments nearly 200 metres wide. In 1995, the River Kennet is recognised as the most biologically diverse river in lowland England and is duly designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The road goes over the SSSI and obliterates adjacent floodplain habitats under embankments nearly 200 metres wide.
Further habitat is lost to gravel pits dug to build the road.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds recommends that Snelsmore Common Site of Special Scientific Interest be protected under the European Union's 'birds directive' because of the nightjars that live there. New research demonstrates that traffic noise prevents songbirds from breeding up to one kilometre from main roads. Because there is no proper biological survey, colonies of dormice living on the route of the bypass are not found until six years after the decision to build the road is taken. Dormice are now rare, and are protected under British and European conservation laws. The snails are protected under European conservation law, but could be affected by changes to their marshland habitat if the road is built.