Alliance against road building

PRESS RELEASE – 4th December 2006

Joint news release issued on behalf of the Campaign to Protect Rural England , Friends of The Earth, Transport 2000 and Road Block

PR68/06 RECKLESS ROAD TO RUIN

Leading environmental groups have joined in condemning the Government for failing to gather crucial information on the environmental impacts of road schemes.

Both questioners were refused with the excuse that the information could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

In a joint statement, the Campaign to Protect Rural England [3], Friends of the Earth [4], Transport 2000 [5] and Road Block [6] said:

‘How can the Government be taking the environment and climate change seriously if it can’t be bothered to find out how much damage will be caused by the road schemes it has approved, and then putting the information in the public domain?

‘Ministers know that rising road traffic, and the road building which goes on in a futile attempt to accommodate it, is one of the greatest environmental threats. We need to know about the overall increase in greenhouse gas emissions which follows when these road schemes are completed, and about the combined harm they are doing to National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, internationally designated nature reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest.’

The groups argue that with both the Eddington and Stern [7] reports recommending that transport must pay its full environmental costs, the Government must measure and publicise the full impact of its policies on climate change, treasured landscapes and wildlife.

‘Government must think again, and give the facts,’ their statement concludes.

– END –

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

1. The two questions asked, and the answers, were as follows:

Chris Grayling MP (Conservative, Epsom and Ewell): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which (a) sites of special scientific interest, (b) areas of outstanding natural beauty, (c) national parks and (d) internationally designated sites will be affected by roads schemes approved in the (i) targeted programme of improvements, (ii) local transport plans and (iii) Community Infrastructure Fund. (28 November 2006)

Dr Stephen Ladyman, Minister of State, Department for Transport: In view of the number of road schemes involved, the information could be assembled only at a disproportionate cost.

Alistair Carmichael MP (Liberal Democrat, Orkney and Shetland): To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the carbon dioxide impact of each road scheme which he has approved since 2000 through the local transport plans. (20 June 2006)

Gillian Merron, Minister of State, Department for Transport: The Department considers carbon dioxide impacts of road schemes as part of the normal major scheme approval processes. However, information on the carbon dioxide impacts of each road scheme approved since 2000 through local transport plans could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

2. Road schemes which directly threaten nationally designated landscapes include the 4.6 kilometre A354 Weymouth Relief Road through the Dorset Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the new stretch of dual carriageway would also damage two nature reserves. Another damaging scheme is the 5.7 kilometre Mottram - Tintwistle bypass scheme which runs, in part, through the Peak District National Park and Green Belt. This would harm a woodland nature reserve and moorland and also cross several national trails, including the Pennine Way .

3. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England . We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen. www.cpre.org.uk

4. Friends of the Earth makes life better for people by inspiring solutions to environmental problems. www.foe.co.uk

5. Expanding the railways, improving bus services, demanding streets for people, tackling the growth in aviation and addressing the root causes of climate change are Transport 2000’s key campaign priorities in 2006. www.transport2000.org.uk

6. Road Block is a national alliance of community groups against road building. Road Block is opposed to road building which increases traffic growth and carbon dioxide emissions and diverts public funds away from sustainable alternatives. See www.roadblock.org.uk

7. Sir Rod Eddington’s study on transport investment and the economy was published 1 December. Sir Nicholas Stern’s report on climate change and economics was published last month. Both reports were commissioned by HM Treasury.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Nick Schoon (CPRE, Director – Communications)

020 7981 2800 (switchboard)

020 7981 2816 (direct)

020 8290 6822 (home)

07739 332796 (mobile)

Nicola S. Frank (CPRE, Press Officer)

020 7981 2880 (press office)

Tony Bosworth (Friends of the Earth, Senior Transport Campaigner)

0113 389 9958 (work)

07941 176642 (mobile)

Stephen Joseph (Transport 2000, Director)

020 7613 7715 (work)

07939 584790 (mobile)

Rebecca Lush (Road Block)

07854 693067 (mobile)

An ISDN audio line is available – contact CPRE’s press office for details.