PROTESTERS fighting plans for the A68 bypass at Dalkeith were taking their case to the Scottish Parliament today. They want MSPs to press the Scottish Executive to carry out fresh environmental analysis of the proposed £40 million scheme. A group of campaigners have been living in trees in Dalkeith Park, which would be bisected by the new route, in protest at the plans. But today the focus of the fight switched to Holyrood, where the protesters were lobbying the public petitions committee. The campaigners argue that all the evidence in favour of the road is ten to 15 years out of date. The last environmental impact analysis was carried out in 1995. They claim that since 1995 there have been considerable changes in the infrastructure of the area, including the dualling of the A1 and the opening of an A7 bypass to the south of Dalkeith, as well as plans for the reopening of the Edinburgh rail link to the Borders.

American peace activist Cindy Sheehan, who held a vigil outside President George Bush's Texas home during the summer, is visiting Scotland.