Representation by Stephen Heath
- Date submitted
- 10 July 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
This project represents years of negative impact on the local economy, inward investment, degradation of grade A farmland, loss of homes and businesses, massive and long term disruption to travel by private vehicles and public transport which will deter tourism aswell as affect travel to work to Blackpool, Preston and beyond. At the consultation early in 2024 there was no information about the proposed route from Lower Lane to Penwortham. The majority of the community are not aware of the cable route and the scale or duration of the disruption. It is difficult to believe alternative routes routes up the, estuary to Penwortham have been seriously explored or even rejected on the basis of impact on wildlife when the proposed route, well partial route as not all the route, has been published,will split the borough in half, destroying communities, livelihoods, closing businesses and threatening charities as volunteers find travel difficulty. The disruption to rail travel is bound to reduce tourism and after a 7 year period of construction it will take many more years to recover if it ever does as the scheme does not offer any benefits to the area, no increase in employment or enhancements to the area, nothing other than degrading what is already here. The alternative routes of Heysham Stalmine or direst to Penwortham provide an opportunity to avoid degrading Community and rural life aswell as wildlife.