Representation by Paula de Felipe Martinez
- Date submitted
- 16 September 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I oppose the building of the Mottram bypass known as the A57 link roads, where I live. It has been stablished that: 1) The scheme would increase traffic. Even though I personally stand to benefit from lower driving times getting in and out of my own household in Hollingworth, the benefits to Mottram and Hollingworth come at the expense of the rest of Longdendale and Glossopdale where traffic increases on many residential roads. 2) 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. 3) Over 60 years the scheme would add an extra 399,867tonnes carbon dioxide. Carbon emissions must be tested against international and national legislation and guidance. With effects of clima change already on full display and consequences to be suffered by generations to come, it is imperative that we plan fuor a grenner future. This roads would achieve the opposite. 4) 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. 5) 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. 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 and nature emergency and the Covid-19 pandemic – make scrutiny of this option essential. 7) 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. For all the above reasons, I believe this investment would have more certain negative impact than potential benefits to the community I live in and to the larger area surrounding it, specially the Peak District National Park. Thank you for taking my representation under consideration. Kind regards, Paula de Felipe Martinez