Representation by Jennifer White
- Date submitted
- 20 August 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I believe that Highways England's decision to follow the Black route is significantly flawed and will cause substantial harm to the local area and community greatly outweighing harm that would be caused by use of the Blue route. HE at an early meeting with the local A66 liaison group assessed that there could be an increase of traffic on the B6277, if the Black route was used, of x3-4 fold. Understandably this cannot be quantified until the changes are made when it would be too late to reverse the potential damage. Increase in traffic down the B6277, along the Sills beside the river, at the traffic lights, over the County Bridge, along Bridgegate and up the Bank, has the potential of causing irreversible and substantial harm to local community, residents, visitors, many listed buildings, air pollution. The risk of accidents occurring is great- the road is significantly narrower than the route that uses the Abbey bridge and Newgate, there are several blind bends with hidden accesses, narrow or absent pedestrian walkways unsuitable for the disabled and young children in pushchairs who need to move onto the road itself at certain points- impossible to widen because of the proximity of the river. The Bank is in effect a single road due to the pinch points and cars parked of necessity outside houses on both sides. Queued cars produce significant amount of exhaust fumes in a narrow area which have health risks, and potential to increase damage to the listed buildings. I believe that any harm proposed by HE due to use of the Blue route is substantially insignificant in the long term compared to the potential harm that would be caused by the Black route.