Threat to countryside and climate goes to court

A legal challenge to the Transport Secretary, Mark Harper’s approval of a new road on the edge of the Peak District National Park is to be heard in court on 3rd and 4th October.

The Peak District and South Yorkshire branch of the countryside charity, CPRE, is pursuing judicial review of Mr Harper’s decision to allow building of the A57 Link Roads near Glossop. CPRE aims to get the decision quashed by the courts.

Following legal advice, DPRE says Mr Harper failed in his statutory duty to consider the environmental impact of the new roads, including the cumulative impact of the thousands of tons of carbon the scheme would emit.

Mr Harper also failed to properly consider reasonable alternatives to the new roads, and therefore failed to demonstrate the “very special circumstances” needed to allow building on Green Belt countryside.

“This was a disgraceful decision by the Secretary of State. He dismissed the harm the scheme would have on the local community. He also ignored the damage that these roads would have on both the National Park and the Green Belt,” said CPRE campaigner Anne Robinson. “This summer the UK’s statutory climate change advisors called for a review of all road building projects. Yet here we have the Government carrying on regardless, ignoring the evidence and seemingly determined to make things worse. It’s time for the Government to be held to account and these damaging road schemes stopped”.

Mr Harper approved the A57 Link Roads project last November, following a six-month public examination by the Planning Inspectorate.

The National Highways project involves two new roads:

• a new dual carriageway around the village of Mottram in Longdendale, linking the A57 trans-Pennine trunk road to the eastern end of the M67 motorway at Mottram Moor
• a single carriageway linking the new dual carriageway to the A57 north of Glossop, bypassing the outskirts of Hollingworth

National Highways claim the roads will relieve chronic congestion on the A57 trunk route between Glossop and the M67. But CPRE PDSY took part in the public examination and presented evidence from a professional transport planner, showing the roads project would actually make local problems worse: it would increase carbon emissions, worsen congestion, lead to more road crashes and increase traffic through the national park, including local villages east of Mottram.

They presented an alternative “Low Carbon Travel” plan for the area, developed by Keith Buchan of the Metropolitan Transport Research Unit, that would restrict heavy lorries and concentrate on sustainable transport solutions without building new roads.

“The Low Carbon Travel Plan would achieve much of the benefits at Mottram, additional benefits in Hollingworth and Tintwistle not offered by the A57 scheme, less environmental damage and safety disbenefits, and significant benefits for those not using cars”, said Mr Buchan.

CPRE have set up a crowdfunding page on the CrowdJustice website and are appealing for public support to fund the legal action: https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/stop-mottram-bypass/

“We are only able to bring this case through the generosity of everyone who wants action to address the climate emergency, and to safeguard the Peak District National Park and the Green Belt. Many thanks if you are able to donate to our appeal and please spread the message far and wide,” said Anne Robinson.