Campaign to Save Swallow's Wood :: Stop the A628 Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass!

Stop the Mottram bypass - Campaign to Save Swallows Wood

!! Visit the Inquiry Website !!

Bypass costs rise 20-70%!!!
23-Jul-08 :: Information published by the DfT last week revealed that the cost of the bypass could rise between 20 to 70%! Worst case (for the DfT) the scheme could come in at a whopping £315 million--a far cry from the £90 million first put forward by the DfT in 2001.
Read our press release to find out more.

Questions of clarification, answers of confusion
21-Jul-08 :: Today we received a letter from the Highways Agency in response to questions of clarification regarding the timing of the publication of evidence. The Highways Agency were supposed to report back to the inquiry in May, but failed to do so, leaving objectors of the scheme in limbo. No-one seems to know (or be prepared to say) when any information will be forthcoming. See the HA response here.

Documents page added
25-Apr-08 :: We've added a page linking to useful documents that relate to the bypass, such as the AST, the Nichols report (which singles out Mottram-Tintwistle as an example of the Highways Agency's poor financial management), and others. Visit the Documents and Freedom of Information page to find out more.

Still no progress
25-Apr-08 :: The waiting game continues. Apparently the Highways Agency will have finished the traffic modelling sometime in May and the Environmental Statement will be published some time in October. For the latest information, visit the Persona website.

2008 Update?
07-Mar-08 :: Still no news about the status of the documentation and the public inquiry, but it would seem we're not the only ones in the dark, as the Inspector recently submitted a document to the Inquiry asking when/if the HA intend to submit their new evidence to the inquiry (see PDF). What we do know that Stephen Greenhalgh is no longer running the show for the Highways Agency and that traffic cameras installed on Market Street, Hollingworth recently suggest that someone's looking at the traffic forecasts again. Watch this space...

National Grid's plans for Woodhead threaten alternatives
15-Dec-07 :: National Grid is proposing to use the Woodhead rail tunnel for cabling. If this goes ahead the tunnel will no longer be viable for rail use, which means a key alternative to the bypass and the problem of transpennine rail freight will be lost. A national campaign to keep the tunnel open is being organised by Campaign for Better Transport, and a local campaign is launching on December 18th at Bradbury House, Glossop. See http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/ and http://savethewoodheadtunnel.blogspot.com/ for information about the campaign and actions you can take to prevent this going ahead. See also the recent Guardian article.

More PI delays likely
04-Dec-07 :: The Highways Agency have announced they are unlikely to have the revised inquiry documents ready until Easter 2008. We'll find out more when the inquiry reopens, albeit briefly, on December 18th.

Limited edition "Save Swallow's Wood" T-shirts on sale!
15-Nov-07 :: Looking for gifts for Christmas, or just looking to spruce up your wardrobe? Then look no further. Now you can be the proud owner of a handmade, ethically sourced, limited edition campaign t-shirt. Support us and get something funky in return.