What happens now?

Victory? Not yet. We've heard on the grapevine that Tameside Council are planning to hold some exhibitions in the local area in the next few weeks. Now what we really want to know is what on earth they intend to share with us. Do they have a plan? Is Bypass 2.0 ready to go? Do they have any intention at all to pursue the very popular proposal for a lorry ban? We await with baited breathe... and will pass on what information we have as soon as we have it!

Bypass costs may reach £315 million

Revised figures, published last week by the Department for Transport [2], now estimate the A628 Mottram Tintwistle bypass to cost between £223 and £315 million, a 20% to 71% increase on the £184 million estimate published in March 2007 [3]. The scheme first entered the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI) in 2001 at an estimated £90 million. If the scheme is to go ahead, additional funding to cover the cost increases will have to be found via the North West's regional funding allocation, which is already considerably over budget. This comes on top of a recent review of local road schemes, which revealed a 54% increase in the cost of the Glossop Spur to over £11 million [4]. The costs were revised as part of a wider review of road scheme costs by the DfT in response to criticisms raised in the Nichols Report last year [3].

The DfT report attributed the cost increases to the actual road construction inflation, which has exceeded the figures on which the earlier estimates were based, and "changes in the scope and design of schemes, and the introduction of more prudent project and programme risk allowances."

In response, Emma Lawrence from Save Swallow's Wood said:

"If this scheme goes ahead we can have no doubt this Government are committed to business-as-usual while the reality of climate change and an ever-rising oil price beat down the door. The inquiry has so far been a shambles and a total waste of tax payers money [5]. These new figures show what we already know: that road building is not a magic bullet to solve local transport problems but a rod for the Government's back. Hopefully someone in Government will see these new figures and finally have the good sense to scrap plan for a bypass and invest instead in sustainable transport alternatives.

Notes for Editors:

[1] Save Swallow’s Wood and Alternative Proposals for Transport are two local groups campaigning against the Mottram-Tintwistle bypass. For more information, visit http://www.saveswallowswood.org.uk

[2] Highways Agency Major Roads Programme: Updated Scheme Cost Estimates, 16 July 2008 http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/introtoroads/roadcongestion/costestimates.pdf

[3] Review of Highways Agency's Major Roads Programme, July 2007
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/nicholsreport/nicholsreport

[4] http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/ltp/major/majorscheme.pdf

[5] Bypass has cost £13.7 million already, Glossop Advertiser, January 2008
http://www.glossopadvertiser.co.uk/news/s/1031408_bypass_has_cost_137m_already

Glossop Carnival - Day 2

Okay, I wasn't there, so I can't really comment, but it turns out that only 20 letters were signed throughout the day, which is fairly rubbish. However, it seems more people took letters away with them, so hopefully they will fill them in and send them off from home, not just bin/recycle them. Still, it was work going along because the stall has defiraised our profile. I've heard reports that a number of new people want to come along to our meetings, which is great, because we really need some fresh blood! Also, a teacher from Hollingworth Primary School wants someone to come in and talk to the kids before the end of term, so that's something that I must organise this week. The final thing to come out of it is that I've been asked to contribute 400-500 words about the wildlife in the valley and around Swallow's Wood. It's for a new free paper that is distributed around Glossop, Hadfield, etc. The article should be non-political, so no ranting about road building and all that jazz, but I can put the website address on it, so that's a big bonus. The deadline is the 17th... I must not forget!

Glossop Carnival - Day 1

A 7.30pm start, complete with hangover, to help with the Friends of the Peak District stall at the Glossop Carnival. Margaret had put the frighteners on Lucy (from FotPD) who was expecting to be lynched by angry locals for a) opposing the bypass, b) coming from Sheffield - so not "local", and c) originating from the South (so definitely not local and probably a Tory). As it turned out, she was definitely a Tory, but still no-one was hurt. The stall went down well and many leaflets were distributed, but with most people watching the football today it wasn't the bustling event that it could have been. Oh well. Tomorrow should be better (if anyone bloody well turns up!)

Back on track

It's been a while since I wrote anything in the blog, but that's just been because there's been so much going on! Back in December 2005, we had the planning application for the Glossop Spur: a 3-week consultation period, which meant mobilising as many people as possible to write in and object to the proposals. We did pretty well, but the scheme was approved all the same despite all the arguments against it. At Tameside Council we were treated like idiots and accused of lying (apparently, we made up the figures about the traffic increases). At High Peak Borough Council we were told, by a Councillor, that whatever the Highways Agency figures say, all he knew was that the traffic outside his house was worse than it used to be. I really hope that guy doesn't get to make any decisions about nuclear power, or we are all going to die.

Anyway, we've since been through the mill over the bypass proposals, for which the consultation period ended on May 5th. We're still sending letters in, much to the Highways Agency's dismay. They could really do without the extra work, but tough.. if they want to carve up our valley they can work for it!

The really bad news is the result of the M74 appeal. This is a disaster for ever road campaigner in the country. At the PI, there's every possiblity the Inspector will recommend against the road being built, but what does that matter if the Secretary of State can overturn the decision? Well, it matters not alot, so perhaps it will set a precedent where Inspectors can at least make a non-political decision, because their views are - ultimately - as meaningless as ours. Welcome to B.liar's Britain.

Quick update

No news for a while - very busy with the Environmental Statement and exhibitions. Becca visited the Highways Agency today to hear Tom Leech quiz them over the double-standard in continued road-building, despite escalating costs, vs. cancelled public transport projects.

The Guardian, Drivers dying for thrills on Britain's most scenic routes