Spanish Napoleonic enthusiasts are up in arms over plans for a road to be built on the Salamanca/Arapiles battlefield. Here Marshal Marmont's French troops faced, and were defeated by, a British, Spanish, Portuguese force led by Wellington on 22nd July, 1812. French losses ran to 12,500 whilst the allied army suffered half that many. The battle was a turning point in the campaign, and it led to French forces abandoning Andalucia. The planned route is to cut in two an area that was declared as 'protected' in 1994. Anyone wishing to lobby Spanish officials our invited to contact Miguel Martín Mas for further information. For further details (in Spanish) on the question, click here.