Representation by Zara Fernley
- Date submitted
- 16 September 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe the Examination should scrutinise issues including increased air pollution and subsequent health issues caused by this in the Glossop area, the proposed destruction of greenbelt land, increased carbon emissions and lack of consideration given to alternative options such as weight restrictions on the Snake Pass and Woodhead. I object to the proposal for A57 link road for the reasons detailed below: 1. The scheme would increase traffic on many residential roads in Glossop. The benefits to Mottram come at the expense of the rest of Longdendale and Glossopdale where traffic volume and air pollution is already an issue. 2. Road accidents would increase across the network. 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. 3. Over 60 years of operation the scheme would add an extra 399,867 tonnes of carbon dioxide. 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’. 4. 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. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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.