Better Transport

In total, about 200 schemes have been approved for funding by the Government since 2000 - both major roads and local authority schemes. The roads progamme is valued at over £10 billion - and that doesn't include the costs of the hard-shoulder running schemes brought in because motorway widening became too expensive!

The schemes listed below are not the only road building proposals in the country, but they are some of the ones we are most concerned about! You can help us fight these roads, by supporting us nationally or getting involved locally.

See how your road ranks:

• The most expensive roads the Government is considering building
• The proposed roads which would increase C02 emissions the most

M25 widening
In brief: Widening of 63 miles of M25 from six lanes to eight lanes, from junctions 5-7 and 16-30 at a cost of over £5 billion. According to the Highways Agency, these schemes would increase CO2 emissions by 133,290 extra tonnes of CO2 every year.
Status: Partial success: the Government is considering hard-shoulder running on two sections – junctions 5-7 and 23-27. We recently commented (60K pdf) with concern on some aspects of the environmental statement regarding junction 16-23.

M6 widening
In brief: Widening of 51 miles of motorway from junctions 11a to 19 (Birmingham to Manchester). Was costed in July 2006 at £2.9 billion, and is expected to now cost over £4 billion.
Status: The Government is now looking at hard-shoulder running instead of widening.

A14
In brief: New road and also widening part of existing A14 road in Cambridgeshire to form a six-lane dual carriageway, expected to cost up to £1.2billion!
Status: Highways Agency scheme approved in the programme, and preferred route announced. Public inquiry expected next year. Rail freight alternative available. Would generate an extra 83,950 tonnes of CO2 a year.
Fighting it: Offord A14 Action Group

Thames Gateway Bridge
In brief: New motorway crossing over Thames connecting Beckton to Thamesmead in East London.
Status: Scrapped? Mayor of London Boris Johnson told the London Assembly that he “was not pursuing the current proposal” and that he thought that the bridge was not “well sited or well thought out”. The inspector's report (46K pdf) contained many good reasons for refusing the bridge.
Fighting it: Campaign for Better Transport is fighting this scheme with Friends of the Earth and local residents Action Group Against the Bridge (AGAB).

A628 Mottram to Tintwistle Bypass
In brief: Bypass through edge of Peak District National Park and Swallow Wood Nature Reserve. Increased from £90 million to £315 million!
Status: Approved and added to roads programme. Public inquiry delayed again while the Highways Agency re-compiles its evidence – expected to reconvene as late as next summer.
Fighting it: Save Swallows Wood
Support them: Make a donation via the Save Swallows Wood website.

Weymouth Relief Road
In brief: A 3.75-mile road north of Weymouth in Dorset which goes through the Dorset Heaths and Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and irreplaceable ancient woodland owned by the Woodland Trust.
Status: The Goverment has approved this road and also given it provisional funding approval. 
Fighting it: Bypass the Bypass and CPRE Dorset.
 

Heysham to M6 Link
In brief: New road through Green Belt bringing more road freight from the Heysham port into communities. Would also increase CO2 emissions by over 25,000 tonnes every year.
Status: Promoted by Lancashire County Council, but not approved by the Government, so has no funding allocated. A public inquiry was held in summer 2007. The Government has given the road planning permission.
Fighting it: Transport Solutions for Lancaster & Morecambe

Bexhill to Hastings Link Road
In brief: A new road linking Hastings and Bexhill which would damage the beautiful and tranquil Combe Haven Valley and lead to infill development.
Status: Promoted by East Sussex County Council, but funding provisionally approved by Government. Costs have almost doubled from £47 million when first approved to £89 million at the latest estimate so Government funding is not guaranteed. Public inquiry expected mid 2008.
Fighting it: Hastings Alliance
Support them: Funds urgently needed to fight the public inquiry. Donate via the Hastings Alliance website.

Westbury Bypass
In brief: The eastern bypass would cut through lovely countryside and a valley below the Westbury White Horse in Wiltshire, and through the habitat of 13 of the UK’s 17 bat species.
Status: Promoted by Wiltshire County Council, against massive local opposition. Not approved by Government, so no money allocated. Currently going through a costly public inquiry.
Fighting it: White Horse Alliance
Support them: Funds are urgently needed to fight the public inquiry. Please donate via the group’s website.

Kingskerswell Bypass
In brief: Bypass in Devon which would split village in two and destroy beautiful countryside and bat habitat.
Status: Promoted by Devon County Council, but not approved for funding by the Government, although a funding bid to go to the Government in December 2007. Public inquiry expected in 2008.
Fighting it: Kingskerswell Alliance