Lancashire County Council in Preston is pushing ahead to buy, under compulsory purchase, green belt land to the north of Lancaster, and to alter or stop up local roads and rights of way, in its rush to build the controversial Heysham M6 Link road. But local transport campaign group Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM) is adamant that the plans can be stopped, and priority can be given over to addressing instead the ever worsening congestion that blights the district.
“Any resident who is affected by the Link road scheme, or who is opposed to it, can object – that includes people who travel locally and who will be affected by the massive road alterations: even the M6 Northbound slip road at Junction 34 may be blocked up for two years,” says David Gate, chair of TSLM. “Sufficient objections will trigger a public inquiry; the last public inquiry did not authorise the building of the road, nor determine the need for it.
“This is a great opportunity to put forward alternatives which would tackle our congestion nightmare head on.”
TSLM will be leafleting the area, and full details about how people can object have been posted on TSLM’s web site at www.heyshamm6link.info.
“The Northern route is the only option that has been advanced by Lancashire County Council. No other route has been assessed, and no alternatives to building the Link have been appraised; this is contrary to Government guidance” said Mr Gate. “A package of alternative transport measures has been produced for the authorities by transport consultants, but they have been quietly put to one side.”
“The Link is designed to attract more lorries to use Heysham port; it will generate many more thousands of tonnes of CO2, and it will destroy the North Lancashire Green Belt,” David argues. “It is widely opposed by residents, the City Council and MP Geraldine Smith. It does not address local congestion.
“If these are not good reasons to object, we don’t know what is.”
• Objections to all five Orders may be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Transport, Government Office for the North East, Local Authority Orders Section, Citygate, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4WH, or by email to Linda.smart@gone.gsi.gov.uk. Objectors must state: the title of the order (“Heysham-M6 Link Road Orders and Schemes” is sufficient), the grounds of their objection, and their name and address. The deadline: 10 December 2009