In the late 1990s, Fairmile became a focus of direct action protest activities, as squatters attempted to stop the construction of the A30 link road between Honiton and Exeter.

[2] The hamlet consists of land slightly smaller than the villages mentioned, but informally distinguished from them, a handful of houses, including the Fairmile Inn (now closed), a boarding cattery (Fairmile Cat Hotel est.

[citation needed] In an attempt to stop the construction of the A30 link road between Honiton and Exeter, Fairmile became the main focus of direct action protest activities.

A force of 200 police officers and bailiffs came to evict Fairmile early in the morning of 30 January.

[3] This was amid considerable national publicity, and led to the temporary celebrity status of the final occupant of one of the tunnels, Daniel Hooper, known by his nickname 'Swampy'.