Representation by Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Bicycle Users Group (Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells Bicycle Users Group)
- Date submitted
- 19 February 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Since its foundation in 1994 National Highways (formerly Highways England and before that the ‘Highways Agency’) has been widening roads, building new roads, constructing bypasses, and building underpasses and crossings citing as the main benefit the ‘easing of congestion’. In not one case has this objective been achieved. The new or widened roads may bring short-term relief, but in the long run they invariably lead to an increase in traffic either on the new or widened roads themselves, or on the feeder roads and downstream roads, or both. The Lower Thames crossing will be no different. Motor traffic is similar to a gas. It expands to fill the space available. If you doubt this reflect that in the early 1960s we had approximately 6m motor vehicles on the roads of Britain. Over the next 60 years National Highways (formerly Highways England and before that the ‘Highways Agency’) built or expanded numerous roads to ‘relieve congestion and improve the reliability of journey times’ (to use the standard mantra). Result: we now have over 40m motor vehicles on our roads, and they are 20-25% larger. There simply isn’t room for them. They clog up our villages, towns and cities. They disturb the peace and quiet of the countryside with their bulk and speed and noise and danger. They are parked all over the roads, and even the pavements, last refuge of the pedestrian. Furthermore, their manufacture, whether they are powered by fossil fuels or electricity, takes a heavy toll on the environment. They pollute the atmosphere with particulate matter,. They kill or maim 30,000 people a year. Construction of the Lower Thames crossing is incompatible with the UK’s 2050 net-zero Co2 emissions target, its 'Decarbonising Transport Plan' and the principles of 'Gear Change' (all official government policy). To go ahead with it would be totally irresponsible. National Highways is currently a key player in the motor lobby, dedicated single-mindedly to the sale of ever more oil, concrete, aggregates, tar, steel, rubber and above all cars. But it doesn’t have to be like that. Rather than pursuing the failed policies of the past by building more roads, and causing further damage to the environment and to society National Highways could instead be investing in the infrastructure required to realise the aims of Decarbonising Transport Plan and Gear Change – high quality cycleways and pedestrian routes. Not leisure cycling, but serious infrastructure to enable the 70% of all journeys in the UK which are 5 miles or fewer to be made on foot, by bike or by public transport. National Highways is currently worried that England will follow Wales in banning all new roads. Its bosses and employees are worried about their jobs. But with the exercise of imagination, boldness and a willingness to re-purpose their skills they have plenty to offer in redesigning our environment around people and communities instead of cars. We have 50 years of catching up to do to rival our more enlightened friends in the Netherlands and in Denmark. National Highways, time for a change of culture; a culture of vision, leadership and responsibility towards your fellow citizens, their children, their grandchildren and the planet.