Roadblock - press release

Alliance against road building

ROAD BLOCK CHALLENGES LOCAL AUTHORITIES OVER NEW ROAD PLANS

Today, anti-roads campaign group Road Block wrote to over 90 local authorities who together are proposing over 100 new major road schemes in their final Local Transport Plans [1]. Using the Freedom of Information Act Road Block is asking local authorities to fill out a detailed questionnaire asking what alternatives to road building they are considering. Government guidance [2] requires local authorities "should not start from an assertion about a preferred modal solution" and "assessment of alternatives should start from an initial wide base of possible options".

Road Block has been concerned for some time that local authorities are choosing road schemes without considering demand management or public transport measures that could achieve the same objectives. Throughout the LTP1 period the government approved over 85 major road schemes. Many community groups opposing these schemes claim that alternatives were not considered by local authorities, and that the DfT approved these schemes without enforcing the requirement to thoroughly examine and appraise alternatives.

For example, controversial schemes such as the Weymouth Relief Road and the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road have been approved by the DfT without practical demand management or public transport measures being considered first. Road Block is determined to assist community groups in assuring that in this second round of Local Transport Plans, local authorities examine non road building options. Road Block will also work to ensure the DfT does not approve road schemes that have not been appraised against demand management alternatives.

In the 2004 DfT Local Transport Plan guidance local authorities were warned against submitting large numbers of Major Schemes [3]. In the December 2005 DfT comments on the Provisional LTPs the DfT said "a number of plans contained unrealistic numbers of proposals for major schemes" and added that there should be "thorough consideration of alternatives (including a realistic 'Do Minimum' case) and supporting demand management measures" [4]

The DfT guidance for funding Major Schemes [5] says that "the testing of alternatives is not an add-on to the appraisal but an integral part of the process of determining the preferred option" and adds that "for highways schemes there should be a consideration of... alternatives to address the problems in the area, such as public transport provision, demand management policies, traffic management measures and strategies. We would expect authorities promoting highway schemes to consider at least one public transport alternative and to undertake an appropriate level of analysis on it".

Rebecca Lush, Coordinator of Road Block, said:

"We want to ensure that the Department for Transport's fine words about road building being a last resort are kept to. For years local authorities have been getting away with dusting down old road schemes, and not examining alternatives that will reduce traffic, and improve the quality of our lives. And for too long the DfT have let them get away with it. If we are to cut congestion and rising traffic growth and CO2 emissions, then we must end roadbuilding. We will help community groups ensure that local authorities do not automatically waste money on road schemes without examining the cheaper and more sustainable ways to solve traffic problems. We will also ensure that the DfT do not approve and fund any more local road schemes without a full examination of alternatives being conducted first."

Controversial schemes that could emerge from Local Transport Plan 2 include:

Heysham - M6 Link (Lancaster Northern Bypass) - goes through Green Belt and would effect 2000 households. Strong community campaign, and government decision on funding expected very shortly.

Westbury Bypass - very environmentally damaging and unpopular locally. Government decision expected soon.

Luton Northern Bypass - would go through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and could impact on 3 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)

Norwich Northern Distributor Road - would destroy countryside, and open it up to development, and is facing local opposition.

Kingskerswell Bypass (Devon) - would go through downland and faces massive community opposition.

South Bristol Ring Road - recently emerged from the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study and already facing mounting public opposition. Will go through Green Belt and effect 1000s of households.

Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (Shropshire) - would effect SSSIs and Green Belt, and facing united environmental opposition. Part of a Transport Innovation Fund study.

South East Manchester Relief Road (Stockport Bypass) - would destroy the Goyt Valley and cost the taxpayer £550 million. DfT decision on funding expected shortly.

Lincoln Eastern and Northern Bypasses - would sever the community of Waddington and damage countryside. Strong community opposition.

Glossop Spur (Tameside) - links into the highly controversial Highways Agency Mottram Tintwistle Bypass in the Peak District National Park. Will damage the Park, and generate huge amounts of traffic.

[2] Section 1.5 on Development of Options in the April 2005 Guidance to Local Authorities seeking DfT funding for transport Major Schemes: http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/page/dft_localtrans_037039.hcsp

[3] Full Guidance on Local Transport Plans, December 2004, para 4.26

http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_localtrans/documents/divisionhomepage/032384.hcsp

[4] Annex 3 of the December 2005 settlement letters commenting on the Provisional Local Transport Plans. Full text:

"Major Schemes
Pages 62-67 of the LTP guidance covered major schemes. However, despite the warnings of funding pressures on majors in the guidance, a number of plans contained unrealistic numbers of proposals for major schemes. The case for major new infrastructure needs to be considered in detail before any schemes are put forward for delivery during or shortly after the second plan period - this should include the thorough consideration of alternatives (including a realistic 'Do Minimum' case) and supporting demand management measures."