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.
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