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A57 Link Roads (previously known as Trans Pennine Upgrade Programme)

Representation by Jon Whitley

• Date submitted: 15 September 2021
• Submitted by: Members of the public/businesses

1. The National Park area already suffers from excessive traffic. It would be hard to argue that the A57 links will not add to this problem. 2. It’s widely acknowledged that adding to a road network only serves to reduce congestion for a short period. Motorists have a level of tolerance for congestion (which is arguably rising over the long term) and so traffic will naturally increase to fill any new road capacity until congestion levels match or exceed those experienced today. The resultant cost will be that that level is reached with increased road traffic, flying in the face of the National Planning Policy Framework which requires ‘radical reductions of greenhouse gas emissions’. Add to that the carbon cost of building the infrastructure and destruction of any natural habitat unlucky enough to be in the way. 3. The budget for this scheme necessarily comes at the expense of other schemes (particularly transport schemes) which could be part of the solution for the National Planning Policy Framework rather than a part of the problem. 4. That this scheme appears to be so much in contravention of the Climate Change Act opens the opportunity for a strong legal challenge should it proceed. Following this route puts in jeopardy not only the cost of the development but also the cost of mounting a legal defense and potentially any reparations in the event of a legal loss. This is not a good use of tax payer funds.

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