Representation by Charles McQueen
- Date submitted
- 4 September 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
As a conservation professional and having carried out bird surveys in the vicinity of Kirkby Thore over the last 20 years I strongly object to the proposed northern bypass of Kirkby Thore associated with the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine Project. The alternative southern route would appear to have a less damaging impact on: 1. Biodiversity 2. Climate change 3. Landscape aesthetics 4. Public purse 1. Biodiversity Impact Where the preferred A66 route passes north of Sleastonhow Lane it passes through a field, with a large low-lying area prone to flooding, that is a breeding and wintering wading-bird hot spot. Species utilising the site (see below) include those afforded special protections or flagged as being of conservation priority under Section 41, EU Birds Directive Annex 1, Schedule 1 species of the Wildlife & Countryside Act, and the UK Birds of Conservation Concern classification. The proposed development will result in permanent habitat loss in this valuable area and the disturbance of a high speed dual carriageway will likely result in the abandonment of the site by breeding and wintering species. Curlew (Section 41, BoCC Red list) Golden plover (Annex 1) Lapwing (Section 41, BoCC Red List) Oystercatcher (BoCC Amber List) Whooper swan (Annex 1, BoCC Amber) Furthermore, this field is likely to have a functional linkage to the North Pennine Moors SPA by virtue of it providing a food-rich staging point for golden plover, one of the SPA qualifying species, in the early spring prior to their arrival on upland breeding sites. In addition to these field-specific concerns the 'northern bypass' cuts through a large swathe of environmentally friendly farmland that holds further Section 41, Schedule 1, Annex 1 and amber/red listed species - including breeding skylark, tree sparrow, barn owl and linnet. Again these species will be negatively impacted by land-take, habitat fragmentation and traffic disturbance. 2. Climate impact Given current concerns in regard to the climate crisis and the UK governments stated desire to be at the forefront of combatting this existential crisis the preferred route chosen by the government owned National Highways is somewhat incongruous. Construction of the preferred northern bypass is estimated to produce 602,166 tCO2e GHG emissions whilst construction of the southern bypass is estimated to produce177,289tCO2e GHG. Given the marked disparity in emissions one would assume that there must be some compelling reason to opt for the northern bypass but this was not evident from any of the online documentation. 3. Landscape Impact The proposed preferred route will take the A66 closer to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, negatively impacting upon the setting of this designated landscape. It will bring development and disturbance to countryside that is essentially acting as a greenbelt for the North Pennines AONB. The southern by-pass would appear to provide a far less damaging option, given that it largely follows the existing route of the A66 and does not geographically encroach towards the AONB 4. Public Purse The Appleby-Temple Sowerby component of the project comprises 27% of the total cost which has a major bearing on the project have a Cost-Benefit ration of less than 1. Given this ratio why has the cheaper southern bypass option not been proposed.