Advice to Jill Harris
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- From
- Jill Harris
- Date advice given
- 16 April 2012
- Enquiry type
I would like to register my objection to the proposed improvement to the A556. I am a regular visitor to the North West having lived in the area for several years and having many friends in the area.
When I learned about the proposals recently via some friends in the Millington area, I was particularly concerned about how this supposed environmental improvement would have a significant detrimental effect on what remains of the green belt countryside in the area of the proposed new road (oddly many friends in Bowdon were not aware of the proposals at all, making me concerned about how widely these changes have been publicised).
I am a regular user of some of the narrow country lanes in the area for example Peacock and Chapel Lanes which will without a doubt become "rat runs" between the link road and local communities with a real risk of serious accidents as these lanes will not be able to cope with the increased volume of traffic.
As someone who drives from the South to the North West regularly as stated earlier, I really can't believe why an improvement to the M6 junction 20 was ruled out - this would limit the damage to the countryside.
Once this countryside is lost, it is lost forever, and to do so for the sake of improving the lives of a few residents on the current road but with major impact on the countryside and small communities along the proposed route of the new road is, in my view, unreasonable.
Advice given
Your comments have been noted and will remain on our file.
Please note that the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) was abolished and on 1 April 2012 the functions were transferred to The Planning Inspectorate. I was the Case Manager for the proposal whilst at the IPC and I remain as the Case Manager within The Planning Inspectorate.
This proposal is currently at the pre-application stage. As you are aware the Highways Agency is currently consulting with local communities and prescribed consultees on their proposal in accordance with the duties which the Planning Act 2008 (as amended) places upon them. I am unsure as to whether you have responded directly to the Highways Agency with your comments, you may wish to send your comments to the Highways Agency because they will be under a duty to take account of relevant responses. Their project website can be accessed via the following link:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/14909.aspx
Please note, the Highways Agency consultation closes today.
Further information about how to participate in the application process can be found in our advice notes. I have attached links below to two advice notes which may be of particular interest:
?Advice Note 8.1: How the process works? http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Advice-note-8.1v4.pdf
?Advice Note 8.2: Responding to the developers pre-application consultation? http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Advice-note-8.2.pdf