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Margaret Thatcher finally opened London\u2019s first ring road - construction on which had begun in the 1970s - on 29th October, 1986, declaring: "I can't stand those who carp and criticise when they ought to be congratulating Britain on a magnificent achievement and beating the drum for Britain all over the world".\nA 58-page commemorative booklet was issued for enthusiasts, and coach trips were organised so that car-less punters could complete a circuit of the new motorway. But public enthusiasm for the project was short-lived when it lead to increased congestion and seemingly endless proposals for expansion.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly dig into the long history of plans for the capital\u2019s ring roads; explain why the M25 managed to bring Epping's combine harvesters to Parliament Square; and consider how Britain\u2019s most hated motorway remains an existential threat to London's \u2018green belt\u2019 countryside\u2026\u2026\nEnjoy this episode? There\u2019s SIX MINUTES MORE of M25 chat over on our Patreon - in which the team discuss Chris Rea's inspiration for 'The Road To Hell', the logistics of a motorway-based honeymoon, and reveal which settlement of Greater London is technically located *outside* the M25:\xa0https://patreon.com/Retrospectors\xa0(top two tiers only).\nFurther Reading\n\u2022 \u2018M25 Opening - Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher\u2019 (Thames News, 1986):\xa0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkTqf9IJtm4\n\u2022 \u2018M25 comes full circle\u2019 (The Guardian, 2011):\xa0https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/28/m25-london-orbital-margaret-thatcher-25?newsfeed=true\n\u2022 \u2018The M25: We're on the road to nowhere\u2019 (The Independent, 2011):\xa0https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/the-m25-we-re-on-the-road-to-nowhere-420365.html\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back on Monday! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\xa0\n#80s #Politics #Inventions #Mistakes #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices