Representation by David O'Brien
- Date submitted
- 16 September 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a life long Glossop resident with deep family connection in the Church Road area of Hollingworth, I would like to raise my concerns that the road project as is, is nothing more than a waste of money and carbon, designed to do little more than line the pockets of the road building agencies and their suppliers. The proposed plan will worsen traffic outside my house, destroy greenspace and release untold amounts of chemicals and pollution into the local area. The raising of weight restrictions on the a57 snake pass and a628 woodhead would do more to remove congestion from the area, an effective bypass would need to begin before entering Tintwistle, from the Sheffield side, at the same time as the provision of a Glossop to hattersly slip road. This would be vastly more intrusive on the environment and unfathomably expensive. In a time we are supposed to build back better I fail to see how the aims of the proposal will be achieved. We should spend the money on providing better public transport and subsidies for those who use them, thus taking more cars of the road, lowering pollution and congestion. I 100% second the views of C.P.R.E. SEE LINK BELOW for a far more articulate argument [redacted] The scheme would increase traffic. The benefits to Mottram come at the expense of the rest of Longdendale and Glossopdale where traffic increases on many residential roads. Road accidents would increase with 102 extra collisions over 60 years but 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. Over 60 years the scheme would add an extra 399,867tonnes carbon dioxide. One tree absorbs around 1tonne of carbon dioxide in 100years. We cannot wait for nearly 400,000 trees to grow for 100years. Carbon emissions must be tested against international and national legislation and guidance. Air pollution improves for some households, for others nitrogen dioxide remains above the legal limit e.g. on Market Street, Hollingworth. For one property on Dinting Vale air pollution gets worse. The Air Quality Management Areas in Tintwistle and Glossop would remain. Wildlife habitats, such as wet grazing meadows, and protected species, such as bats and barn owls, would be lost. Local countryside, highly valued for its natural undeveloped character and open views, would be urbanised and the Green Belt would be cut in two. 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 and nature emergency and the Covid-19 pandemic – make scrutiny of this option essential. The Peak District National Park is a bank for carbon, a haven for wildlife and a place where everyone can get outdoors and enjoy nature, and peace and quiet. With more traffic on cross Park routes these special qualities will be eroded.