AGENCY SLAMS ROAD PLANS
20/2/06: The government's Environment Agency has criticised the County Council's Heysham M6 Link plans, filing a number worrying objections which draw attention to a disturbring lack of detail and information in the current proposals.
The objections come just days after the LCC tried to reassure locals that, despite a question raised in the Commons by Geraldine Smith MP about the flood risk to Halton, their relationship with the Environment Agency was still on track.
The Agency has highlighted the LCC's failure to provide a flood risk assessment in its plans or account fully for the ecological impact of the scheme. The government department's assessment also states that design of the new bridge fails to meet its standards on several counts, both visually and structurally.
Among the other criticisms are the Council's failure to provide an assessment of such things as the environmental impact of artificial lighting on the river Lune and its corridor (artificial lighting would disrupt a range of wildlife using or living in the river); and raises a number of concerns about the damage to other waterways such as Howgill Brook.
Environmental concerns were among the reasons for the eventual decision not build the Western Bypass around Lancaster, which would have damaged Sites of Scientific Interest and affected rare wildlife and have a huge impact on green belt areas, woods and the river. (There were also other reasons, detailed by the lovethelink group)
"These objections from the Environemnt Agency are a massive blow to the scheme and a huge embarrassment to Lancashire County Council, who had been trying to calm people's fears over the flood risks in the plan," feels David Gate, chair of Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe, the independent group who favour non road building solutions to the traffic problem. "It now looks like LCC will have to spend considerably more time and money to satisfy the Agency, and it may well be that the government will not come up with the additional cash."
"LCC have been too quick off the mark, despite several hundred letters of objection and now the EA's damning report," David continues. "They want to approve their own planning application before the funding is finalised, but the government will not approve a scheme without an exact costing for the bridge and other revised work, and where doubts remain about the flood risk and environmental impact."
The road plan has the support of several groups, including the County Council who will be aproving their own planning proposal, who are arguing in favour of the link on a "Northern or Nothing" ticket (see lovethelink web site), completely forgetting their previous antipathy to the Northern scheme when the Western Bypass was on the drawing board. (Skerton Labour Party was firmly against the Northern link at the time, and some Labour councillors representing the area remain unconvinced of its value).
The North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) has backed plans for the link by putting it forward for a slice of £1.3billion being spent in the region and including in a list of the region's top transport priorities.
• Read the Environmental Agency's objections in full (links to a page on this site which will open in a new window)

BYPASS: ARTIST'S IMPRESSION

Beaumont Gate Farm: The A6 becomes a flyover on the Link Road

26/5/05: Artists Impressions from the Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe Alternative Exhibition 17 May 2005.
They show the point where the A6 will cross the proposed Heysham M6 Link Road, before & after.
Many local people worked together on the Alternative "Monster Road" Show to provide a really excellent and informative exhibition. It was well worth it with over 540 people through the door between 3pm and 9pm.
• Visit the TSLM website.

BYPASS EXHBITIONS

12/5/05: Lancashire County Council has been running its Road Show to exhibit the plans for the Northern Bypass all this week in various community centres (the last one is 3- 8.30pm Friday 13 May at Slyne-with-Hest Memorial Hall).
On Tuesday 17 May Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe ( TSLM ) are mounting their own Alternative Public Exhibition at the Vale of Lune Rugby Club from 3-9pm.
"The County Council has so far failed to show us any artist’s impressions of this huge project, which would show the public just how destructive and invasive this road would be" said David Gate, Chair of TSLM..
"We decided to take the County Council’s plans and give them to a local artist to interpret. We think the results will make the public think twice about supporting a project which would destroy our countryside and replace it with miles of concrete and tarmac".
"Everyone in the community will be welcome, because everyone would be affected. We will have some very interesting facts and pictures on display".
If you don't know much about the Heysham M6 Link Road, this will be a chance to see what the proposed Link Road will really be like with facts and figures about the road, maps, photos and artists impressions, ecological and environmental impacts and examples of real alternative solutions for the traffic problems of Lancaster and Morecambe. There will be lots to see and do (including helping to build a model of the road!) and plenty of people to talk to. There's also fun things organised for the Kids. Find out what £85m of your money may be spent on. See www.heyshamm6link.info.
Visit the TSLM website at www.heyshamm6link.info/.
Image: An artist's impression of the proposed Heysham M6 Link Road. Broadoak Corner: Lancaster Road is diverted, existing road becomes a subway

….AND STATISTICS
In a letter sent out to all businesses in March the County Council said support for the bypass was 94%. It then corrected this to 79%. However in response to a request under freedom of information legislation made by Cllr John Whitelegg (Green party) the county has revealed that the level of support for the Northern Bypass is:
strongly support 16%
tend to support 28%
Councillor Chris Coates, recently elected Green County Councillor for Lancaster Central said: "I am very disturbed indeed by this manipulation of statistical results in favour of an already poorly justified project and I will ask that County circulates an accurate summary of the results of the MORI survey."

HEYSHAM FREIGHT
28/4/05: What is needed is to apply pressure to the various bodies concerned, (Heysham Port, Lancashire County Council, M.P.’s etc.) to discuss the provision of rail facilities (which can be grant assisted by Government through a Freight Facilities Grant) so that firms would have the opportunity to use the rail network.
New freight flows are continually being established as it is realised that congestion and the Working Time Directive are increasing costs thus increasing the attractiveness of rail freight.
One example is the opening by the Potter Group of a freight terminal at Knowsley near Liverpool just a few years ago which entailed laying of a new spur line where none existed. Connecting new sidings at Heysham would entail even less cost as the railway runs right into the port,
Yours sincerely,
C.Kilshaw.

BYPASS STATEMENT FROM GERALDINE SMITH
28/4/05: Transport Solutions for Lancaster & Morecambe asked Geraldine Smith (Labour candidate for Morecambe & Lunesdale) for her view on the Heysham M6 Link (Northern Route). Here is her reply in full.

Heysham Port – M6 Link Proposed Northern Route
I have always held the view that the Northern route was by far the least favourable of the three options originally put out for consultation. It offers the least opportunity for developing the areas derelict Industrial sites and the regeneration of Morecambe. It does nothing to relieve the internal Morecambe-Heysham-Lancaster traffic congestion. And it has the highest adverse environmental impact on the people and communities adjacent to it.
I articulated these views during the planning inspectors inquiry into the Western Bypass and over the years have consistently repeated them in the media, at local, county, regional government levels and in Parliament. Nothing has happened in recent times to cause me to change my opinion.
It is my intention to write directly to local residents informing them of views and suggesting a course of action to follow. I will ensure that you receive a copy of the document prior to its general circulation.
I hope you find these brief remarks helpful.
Yours sincerely
Geraldine Smith
Labour Party Candidate

A CONSTITUTIONAL NO TO THE NORTHERN BYPASS

5/4/05: About 250 determined people packed into the Vale of Lune Rugby Club this Tuesday evening to vote on the constitution of a new campaign group 'Transport Solutions for Lancaster & Morecambe' (TSLM) to oppose the construction of the Heysham-M6 Link via the proposed Northern route.
Read more..
Visit the TSLM website at www.heyshamm6link.info/.

GETTING BUSY WITH THE ORGANISATION
8/3/05: Northern Bypass Meeting Report
On Tuesday 8 March, 100 local residents opposed to the Northern Bypass met at the Vale of Lune.
They were keen to campaign to stop the Bypass, and to prepare alternative plans to address the traffic problems of the Lancaster & Morecambe area.
Coun. Emily heath was impressed with the turnout, 'There are lots of people here who have never been involved in something like this before. A real cross-section of the community coming together with enthusiasm to protect an area that they really value."
It was a working meeting. The focus was on people volunteering to work on different aspects of the campaign.
Following this, people will get together in working groups to decide strategy and tactics, and the nature of future meetings. This will then be announced to the public and the press.
David Gate.
The next meeting will be at the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, Powder House Lane, Lancaster (just off Torrisholme Road). 7.30 – 9pm, Tuesday 5 April 2005.

COUNCIL SURVEY: BYPASS WON'T EASE CONGESTION
17/2/05: A packed meeting at Lancaster Friends Meeting House was called by Cllr John Whitelegg (Green Party) and also heard from Andrew Dobson (Head of Planning & Building Control for Lancaster City Council (LRCC) and Frank Kennedy (Friends of the Earth Regional officer for NW England). Below is a summary of the main points raised at the meeting by these and many members of the audience.

A member of the Lancashire County Council (LSCC) planning office gave results of a County Council survey which showed that 80% of the traffic crossing the two A6 Lune bridges was travelling between Lancaster & Morecambe and would be unaffected by any bypass.

A factor which had a larger impact on congestion was school holidays, when congestion was reduced by 25% and traffic circulated freely. The point was made that Kendal had 2 bypasses and the town was still very heavily congested because the bulk of its traffic wanted to get into Kendal.

There was no evidence that there would be any regenerative improvement in Morecambe or Heysham. It was noted that the Humber Bridge had been built with the intention of bringing regeneration to Hull but had made no improvement. This could only be brought about by local investment in training, housing and business incentives.

The sole beneficiary of the bypass would be Heysham Port and the road haulage companies serving it. Cllr Abbot Bryning (Labour) said that existing distribution networks could not be adequately accessed by rail and therefore little of the freight being carried through the Port could be transferred to rail. The single possible exception being car transporters headed to Ireland.

There are therefore four issues to deal with here.

• Congestion
• Freight access to Heysham Port
• Regeneration
• The potential impact of a new road.

Each of these will be the subject of a Virtual Lancaster Report, appearing week-by-week from 18/2/05 and updated as news comes in. Click on the links above to read them.

The next meeting will be at the Vale of Lune Rugby Club, Powder House Lane, Lancaster (just off Torrisholme Road).
7.30 – 9pm, Tuesday 5 April 2005.