Representation by Charlotte Farrell
- Date submitted
- 14 September 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe the Examination should scrutinise the following issues: 1. The scheme would increase traffic. The benefits to Mottram (but not those on Market Street or near the new underpass) come at the expense of the rest of Longdendale and Glossopdale where traffic increases on many residential roads. This does not comply with national policies for climate change and modal shift to walking, cycling and public transport. 2. Road accidents would increase (102 more collisions over 60 years) across the network. However on the A57 Snake Pass, a high risk road for a fatal or serious injury crash, there would be 160 extra collisions over 60 years. There would be additional problems on the Snake Pass from subsidence as already it is unable to cope with the level of use and frequently has to be closed for repairs. This would impact on those who rely on it for immediate access. 3. It would mean additional traffic through the village of Bamford which already sees vehicles queuing at peak times on weekends because the volume of traffic is too great for the narrow road through the village causing tailbacks. 4. Over 60 years of operation the scheme would add an extra 399,867 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Over a lifetime of 100 years, one tree absorbs around 1 tonne of carbon dioxide but we cannot wait for nearly 400,000 trees to grow for a hundred years. Carbon emissions must be tested against international and national legislation and guidance including the Paris Agreement, the 2008 Climate Change Act’s legally binding target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the UK Sixth Carbon Budget, science-based carbon budgets from the Tyndall Centre, and the National Planning Policy Framework which requires ‘radical reductions of greenhouse gas emissions’. 5. Although air pollution improves for some areas, for others nitrogen dioxide levels remain above the legal limit e.g. on Market Street in Hollingworth. In one part of Dinting Vale air pollution gets worse. The Air Quality Management Areas in Tintwistle and Glossop would remain. The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone has been excluded from the air quality modelling but could lead to traffic diverting to avoid paying the toll, creating congestion and air pollution elsewhere. 6. The scheme involves fragmentation, loss or displacement of diminishing wildlife habitats such as wet grazing meadows and of protected species, such as bats and barn owls. The impacts on the rich and diverse wildlife are minimised because species are considered only of ‘local value’. Local countryside, highly valued for its natural undeveloped character and open views, would be urbanised and the Green Belt would be cut in two. 7. A lorry ban coupled with sustainable transport measures and technological improvements would bring lasting benefits and avoid the above adverse impacts. But Highways England rejected this option. Far reaching changes since 2015 - the declaration of a climate emergency; the Covid-19 pandemic; and a review of the Treasury’s rules to assess the value of roads make scrutiny of this option essential. 8. The Peak District National Park is a haven for wildlife and a place where everyone can get outdoors and enjoy nature, peace and quiet and also a significant bank of carbon. With more traffic on cross Park routes these special qualities will be eroded. National policy requires trunk road traffic to go round National Parks.