Local Roads


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Across England Regional Bodies have been asked to prioritise spending on local transport schemes through a process called the Regional Funding Allocations.

In the West Midlands a list of proposed transport schemes was approved by the Regional Transport Partnership and most accepted by Government.

West Midlands CPRE was critical of the process by which this list was drawn up, and the lack of ability for local residents effected by schemes or environmental groups to challenge the information put forward by local authorities and has called for greater public involvement in future rounds of this process.

In particular several controversial road schemes were put forward. Some are still being pursued, others we managed to stop. The four schemes below are among the most controversial.

The Regional Funding Allocation will be refreshed in Summer 2007. A list of schemes has been submitted to the Regional Assembly. More detailled papers and a list of schemes are available on the Transport Partnership page on their website

The Brownhills Eastern Bypass

Part of a package of proposals to help regenerate Brownhills, it would have had a devestating affect on the village of Stonnall and on the countryside in the Green Belt. CPRE worked with local residents, including SCAR, and the Government has now asked Walsall Council to look again at less environmentally damaging alternatives. Contact Staffordshire CPRE for more information about how we are opposing this proposal.

The Rotherwas Relief Road

This road follows a similar line to the old proposal for a Hereford Bypass through the ocuntreyside around Hereford, but its main purpose is as access to the Rotherwas Industrial Estate which Hereford Council has been promoting for some years. The council has also proposed substantial housing along the route of the bypass. After the Public Inquiry into Hereford’s Development Plan the Inspector rejected the housing and questioned the approach to Rotherwas, however, under rules which have now been changed, the local authority was able to reject his findings and continue with the road proposal, funded by the housing and by grants from Advantage West Midlands. Contact Herefordshire CPRE for more information about how we are opposing this proposal.


The Shrewsbury North West Relief Road

If constructed the road would cut a huge scar through a highly visible ridge of countryside overlooking Shrewsbury and could lead to further development, including housing on the periphery of the town. The Local Council is currently pursuing a bid though theTransport Innovation Fund which would involve a congestion charging scheme in the town. CPRE does not believe the level of congestion in the town merits the road and is worried that the TIF bid is being pursued mainly to fund an unsustainable new road scheme. We want to see alternative approaches which support more sustainable transport modes in and around the town. Contact Shropshire CPRE for more information about how we are opposing this proposal.

Longbridge Link Road

Proposals for a link road between the Longbridge factory and the M5 have been promoted since before the car factory closed. They would cut a swathe through attractive Green Belt. The need for such a proposal has diminished since the car factory closed. Whatever replaces the factory is unlikely to generate such high levels of concentrated traffic. We are therefore arguing for a reconsideration of the proposals and for less intrusive options to be pursued as the site is redeveloped. Contact Warwickshire CPRE for more information about how we are opposing this proposal.

16.02.08