The DfT has announced “programme entry” status for the HM6L. This means that the bypass has now got to first base on its bid for £137 million of taxpayers money. This does not mean the bypass can be built and programme entry status does not guarantee funding. It can be withdrawn over the next few months.
Commenting on the DfT announcement, Councillor John Whitelegg (Bulk Ward, Green Party) who gave evidence at the public inquiry into the bypass said:“It took DfT over 3 years of discussion with the County Council to get to this point when it normally takes 6 months. DfT knows this bypass was not properly evaluated by County, is bad value for money, destructive and damaging to the green belt and the residents of Torrisholme.”
The Green Party and other opponents of the bypass have long argued for alternatives to road building and even Lancashire County Council’s own research shows that a 12% drop in traffic and associated congestion relief can be achieved by non roadbuilding solutions
Cllr Whitelegg went on to say “The decision to grant programme entry is simply DfT cowardice. The DfT knows that it will not fund the £6 million for the park and ride at Jnct 34 and neither will County. It knows that that the cost will escalate even more than the current high of £137 million and that County will have to pay 50% of any cost increase and it knows that County will eventually have to drop the scheme. DfT would rather that County got the political flak for dropping it rather than ministers.”
Lancashire County Council has run a large scale project called “Travel Smart” to reduce car trips and increase the use of walking, cycling and public transport. In Lancaster this produced a 12% reduction in car trips and a 16% increase in the sustainable forms of transport. Details can be seen on: http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1173362006921
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