Joanne Devaney
SoCoMMs
Project Co-ordinator
Halcrow
Group Ltd
Vineyard
House
Brook
Green Lane
London.
Dear Ms Devaney.
Transport Solutions for the South Coast – Preferred Strategy.
As
you may already know SCAR was formed in 1994 to fight what was then the threat
of a South Coast Superhighway. Whilst over the years we have been pleased that
threat has reseeded, nevertheless we are still vigilant.
Our
members, as a group and individually, have taken part in roundtables and the
Public Inquiries into various road schemes along the coast from Devon to Kent.
They were also involved in the Twyford Down and Newbury schemes.
On
reviewing the Preferred Strategy I’m afraid that the number and size of the
road schemes proposed, disappointed our members. They were puzzled by this
emphasis on road building, when the study confirms that there is little demand
for long distance road travel from one end of the area to the other. Of course
in any case, we expect that the need for such expensive schemes would be
thoroughly tested through the normal cost benefit analysis exercise, before the
strategy was cast in stone.
Apart
from the unacceptable damage these schemes will do to areas of outstanding
natural beauty, they will have the effect of making road journeys more
attractive and therefore reversing any gains in traffic reduction made by the
Government.
Our
members can agree with Government policy, in as far that we must have the daring
to tackle the problem of car dependency and the need to commute and move goods
over long distances. Clearly there is massive pressure on Government to provide
a sustainable transport system. No Government can ignore the wishes of
environmental and transport groups, with a combined UK membership of over 10
million, in their wish to see the environment and the quality of life protected
from the worst effects of car culture life styles and more roads.
SoCoMMs
must have the courage to reject this culture and instead promote measures, which
reduce the need to travel.
Despite
being critical of the preferred strategy we do see elements worthy of support.
These are:
ü
Improvements to the South Coast
Railways, including:
i) The new Stations
ii) Improved facilities in-order to increase movements of freight by rail.
iii)
Improving interchange facilities at rail stations
ü
Priority routes given to busses
and the local public transport plans.
In conclusion we repeat. We strongly disagree with the road building plans and all measures to increase the desirability to use the car or lorry.
We
submit our wish list of elements to be included in the strategy:
ü
Strictly enforced speed limits
ü
Rapid
implementation of desperately needed ‘Home Zones’
ü
Area wide
congestion charging
ü
Routes made
safe for walking and cycling to school and work.
ü
A modern bus
fleet and
affordable fares.
ü
A
recommendation to make changes to regional planning so that new developments
provide essential services and reduce the need to travel by car.
Yours
sincerely
Ian
Brookes
Secretary.
[South
Coast Against Roadbuilding (SCAR) was formed in 1994 as an umbrella group to
local groups fighting the threat of a superhighway along the south coast].
