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Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe.
Aims & Objectives
1 We will demonstrate good reasons for our opposition to the proposed Heysham M6 Link (formerly known as the Northern Bypass) and at the same time advance alternative proposals for the reduction of traffic congestion in the Lancaster district.
2 We believe that in the 21st century we all have to work on different transport solutions rather than further erode our quality of life by destroying our local environment and countryside to facilitate the motor vehicle.
3 In furtherance of our objectives we shall seek to engage the people of Lancaster and Morecambe, their elected representatives and public authorities to raise our concerns and work with them to find solutions acceptable to the community as a whole
Manifesto
We oppose the Heysham-M6 Link Road because:
1. It will not solve our transport and economic problems
- The road will not effectively address local traffic congestion, which is mainly caused by car movements within and between Lancaster and Morecambe.
- The proposed road would at best lead only to a 20% reduction in peak time congestion in its opening year.
- The extra road space will quickly fill up. Traffic in the UK is growing by 1.7% per year, and it is well known that new roads generate additional traffic. So in only a few years we’ll be back to square one, with even more congestion and pollution.
- There is no evidence that the road will regenerate Morecambe or Heysham. It will encourage more HGVs to drive through our district, but this will not necessarily bring more jobs for local people.
2. The road is destructive and damaging
- In the 2001 consultation document, the map gave no impression of the size of the road. Now we have the detailed map and we can see the damage to the environment that this road will do.
- The 5.1km dual carriageway will destroy 70ha of Green Belt, and affect two County Biological Heritage Sites - the Lune and the Lancaster Canal (another is within 50m). 11km of hedgerows and many veteran trees will be destroyed.
- At Torrisholme there will be a raised dual carriageway and two new feeder roads, a total of eight lanes, all well lit. At Beaumont Gate farm a new flyover will be created for the A6 and the pasture will be replaced by a new roundabout. At Halton a new 200m bridge will cross the river alongside the existing motorway bridge creating a scene out of place with the surrounding environment.
- The land along the route will be a target for future infill development such as petrol stations, warehouses and superstores.
3. There are better and cheaper solutions to the transport problems in the Lancaster and Morecambe area.
- 80% of car journeys in Lancaster and Morecambe are local i.e. not through-traffic. We should concentrate on encouraging as many as possible of these short journeys to switch from cars to foot, bike, bus or train, drawing upon best practice from other towns.
- We advocate better quality bus and train services, provision of park and ride, cycle ways and improved routes for pedestrians.
- Travel plans for schools and businesses must be implemented to encourage people to reduce unnecessary car use and consider alternative ways to travel.
- We urge the greater use of rail, especially for certain types of freight at the Port of Heysham.
- Road building is extremely expensive. The Heysham-M6 link road would cost more than £85 million. By comparison Lancashire County Council plans to spend only £24 million per year on all other transport across the entire county!
- Do you share our concerns? Then join us!
- TSLM is made up of individuals and local organisations who oppose this road. We are concerned local residents from all walks of life, who are prepared to fight to save our locality for the future.We would like you to work with us to stop the project and develop the alternatives. We have to suffer the traffic just like you do and we are keen to find the answers.
- For further information on how you can help and details of contacts, please visit the Contacts page.
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