Representation by HOWARD PACK
- Date submitted
- 14 July 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Dear Planning Inspectorate, I am pleased to raise objections to the A46 Bypass scheme as currently proposed, viz: - 1) In the applicant's document TR010065/APP/4.1 Statement of Reasons Page 49 section 5.4 Compelling Case in the Public Interest it mentions in paragraph 5.4.4: - "In particular, as set out in Chapter 6 of the Case for the Scheme (TR010065/APP/7.1), paragraph 2.2 of the NPSNN identifies a “critical need” to improve the national networks to address road congestion and crowding on the railways to provide safe, expeditious and resilient networks that better support social and economic activity; and to provide a transport network that is capable of stimulating and supporting economic growth. It goes on to state that improvements may also be required to address the impacts of the national networks on quality of life and environmental factors." There does not appear to be any consideration of wider environmental objectives, including the Government's commitment to de-carbonisation of transport and how this objective is supported by this scheme. In particular examining how the use of the railway network may reduce the growth in road vehicle usage. The completion of the A46 dual carriageway on the Leicester, Nottingham and Lincoln corridor will adversely affect passenger patronage on the parallel Nottingham and Lincoln Railway that offers a lower carbon alternative. The Government's target is to double rail freight's tonnage. The Humber ports to the Midlands corridor over the Lincoln to Nottingham line is a main rail freight route. Trains of up to 3,000 tonnes in the westerly direction and 2,200 tonnes in the easterly direction traverse this route. There is a potential to expand this traffic and relieve the strain on the A46. This has not been considered by the applicant. In previous major road schemes such as the A14 upgrade, or the Southampton to West Midlands route a multimodal corridor approach was undertaken. 2) In the applicant's document TR010065/APP/7.4 Transport Assessment it mentions in Section 7.3: - "7.3.3 North of these two stations is the Newark Flat Crossing which is the point where the Nottingham to Lincoln line intersects with the East Coast Main Line. It is the last remaining flat railway crossing in the UK.” “7.3.4 The flat crossing is to the immediate north of the existing A46 and may be impacted by the Scheme. The Applicant has worked with Network Rail and the Department for Transport (DfT) to identify and understand any conflicts between the Scheme and the potential grade separation of the railway lines, and to discuss opportunities for working together. The Applicant worked with the DfT designer to respond to each of the identified areas to provide confidence that the Scheme did not preclude a future grade separated rail scheme from being delivered in the future. Further details of the engagement can be found in the Consultation Report (TR010065/APP/5.1)." In document TR010065/APP/5.1, page 17: - Newark flat rail crossing "Respondents highlighted the need for the Scheme to consider Network Rail’s aspirations to separate the levels of the existing flat crossing between the Nottingham to Lincoln line and the East Coast mainline at Newark-on-Trent." In document TR010065/APP/5.1, page 27: - Network Rail "The Applicant has held regular meetings with Network Rail, including their asset protection team. Discussions focused on potential Scheme impacts on Network Rail land and assets, including structures over the East Coast Mainline and Nottingham to Lincoln Railway Line. Asset protection agreement and SoCG documents were also discussed. Further meetings held with the Department for Transport and Network Rail regarding the potential future grade separation of the Nottingham to Lincoln Railway Line and the East Coast Main Line and the interface with the Scheme design. The Department for Transport commissioned a design consultant to undertake a feasibility design for the grade separation scheme and to identify potential clashes with the Option 2 modified design option for the Scheme." The Design Consultant's report on the effect on the Newark Flat Crossing has not been supplied in the evidence, so it is not possible to comment on the outcome of work on the Newark Flat Crossing. 3) There is a previous concern over the feasibility of the grade separation of a flyover for the Nottingham to Lincoln Line over the East Coast Main Line. This relates to the steepness of the proposed gradients particularly on the approach from Newark Castle. It would be sensible to raise the soffit of the A46 road over the railway east of the Cattle Market roundabout to ease the gradient on the railway. 4) Furthermore the lack of a multimodal approach to the corridor means that the A46 scheme and the railway grade separation scheme are considered and constructed separately. It is my contention that a multimodal approach should be taken and the two schemes should be progressed as one scheme and constructed together. Yours faithfully, Howard Pack 14th July 2024