Issues (cont'd)

Were the Alternatives Given a Fair Hearing?

As part of their Appraisal remit is to assess alternatives to the road scheme, one wonders if those options have been fairly considered at all. Traffic restraint, public transport schemes and rail schemes have been all too lightly dismissed by all decision makers, largely on the grounds that these will not bring any benefit unless the bypass is built. Some might well ask, well why not try a few out and see what happens? Set up real speed cameras along the route, improve bus and rail services, promote walking and cycling as alternatives to driving on shorter journeys. All of these measures could be put in place today and all have been proven to have a positive effect in reducing traffic volumes in congested areas.

Similarly why at no point have relevant MPs and local authorities actively sought to place before the villagers an alternative to the much feted but clearly ultimately abortive road scheme? The Peak Park Transport Forum (PPTF), following 'independent' evaluations by paid consultants rejected the Translink scheme. It should be noted that Tameside Council and the Highways Agency regularly employ the consultants concerned.

In addition to this, the SPITS questionnaire revealed that hauliers would be prepared to travel via the M1/M62 to Manchester were the A628 closed to freight, with the report claiming that

"Overall hauliers were not opposed to the bypass, but were uncertain whether it was really needed. They felt that traffic could largely use the existing motorway unless they had direct business in the [Peak District National] Park"

A comment was inserted in the report in response to this, pointing out that few of the hauliers questioned would use route and are therefore unaffected by such a route change[2]. This demonstrates as certain amount of bias on the part of the SPITS assessment, as the basis for the 64% support for the bypass scheme comes from only 100 residents of Tameside. And, yes, that's the whole of Tameside, not just areas that will be affected. From the Hollingworth area, only 17 respondents contributed to the questionnaire, but SPITS elected not to allow this fact to discredit their findings in favour of the scheme.

Furthermore, the SPITS study showed far greater support for the Translink proposals (or any similar scheme that would involve the reopening of the Woodhead Tunnel to rail-freight and passenger services), with 74% expressing agreement with this as a solution to the traffic problems.

[2] South Pennines Integrated Transport Strategy: Final Report

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