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16th December 2008:
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13th December 2008:
Results of the TSLM Flower Quiz now on the TSLM Community page
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29th September 2008: Plea to County Councillors to reassess transport priorities in Lancashire.
North Lancashire based transport campaign group Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM) has today written to County Councillors across Lancashire advising them of the increased liability of Lancashire's taxpayers, and the hold on the county's transport budget for many years to come, caused by the rapidly escalating costs associated with the proposed Heysham M6 Link road scheme.
The estimated costs of the scheme, £87.7 million in July 2005, have now risen to £134.7 million: an increase of 54% in just three years. The Government, which has not granted any funding for the scheme, has stated that, if it did make money available, it would not fund further cost increases, or the cost of any complementary measures for congestion relief for the Lancaster and Morecambe district.
A package of congestion relief measures, including park & ride, public transport
improvements and changes to one way systems, has been drawn up and costed at £96 million. No money has been earmarked for these congestion relief measures for North Lancashire, nor are there any initiatives under way to implement them.
"It goes without saying that money is tight at the moment, but Lancashire County Council (LCC) is determined to press on with a controversial road building scheme, which has consequences for the county's taxpayers and other transport projects in Lancashire, for many years to come," said David Gate, chair of TSLM. "If it spends the money on the road, it is very unlikely that the congestion relief measures will be implemented and Lancaster and Morecambe will continue to be log jammed.
"We believe that North Lancashire's congestion problem could be greatly relieved by
prioritising the integrated transport package that has been developed for the area, without resorting to building this road. The Link road would simply encourage more heavy goods traffic onto our roads to use Heysham port, and it would wipe out 173 acres of North Lancashire's Green Belt, and generate 24,000 tons of CO2 in its first year of
operation alone.
"It’s time for the County Councillors to re assess their transport priorities, and give North Lancashire's congestion relief measures the go ahead. We fear that if they build the Link road there will be nothing left in the kitty to tackle our horrendous congestion, without placing an unreasonable burden on Lancashire's taxpayers and blocking other transport plans in the County.”
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25th September 2008: Pictures from the latest TSLM Roller Disco on the Community Page
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22nd September 2008: Expert advises value for money congestion busting measures, not the Northern route
Concerned that vital Department for Transport appraisal guidance has not been followed in planning for the Heysham M6 Link road, and the fact that there is no clear statement as to what the costs really are, local campaign group Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM) engaged a national transport expert, Keith Buchan to look into matters.
In his report, which is now being considered by the Department for Transport, he concludes that vital appraisal guidance has not been followed and that a proper alternative package of transport measures should be prepared to compare with the Northern route scheme.
"A considerable amount of work on other measures has already been done by council consultants Faber Maunsell and proposals have been made in a £120,000 report, but the Preston based County Council stubbornly sticks to the £189 million Link road as its top priority." said David Gate, chair of TSLM. "The main purpose of the Link is to attract more heavy traffic to use Heysham port, but for most local people between town congestion is the main priority."
"It will come down to a question of priorities; no one in their right mind thinks that the taxpayer can afford both. We believe that for half the price of the Link Lancaster and Morecambe could get the integrated transport solution that it deserves and we challenge the County Council to prove that we are wrong."
Download the report here (pdf)
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Halton residents' giant protest against the "Lune-y Bridge"
Giant billboards make a vivid protest against the proposed bridge over the Lune for the M6 link.
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"Villagers have suffered disastrous floods in the past",
says Halton resident Mike Jacob.
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This bridge will increase the risk of worse floods in the future. It is too low.
Its piers are at the edge of the water, and will trap hugh amounts of debris in a flood, damming the river for people living just upstream.
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This bridge must not be built, especially at a time when flooding is predicted to be more intense and frequent."
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14th July 2008: Upcoming TSLM Community events:
TSLM are holding a Pub Quiz on 24th July and an afternoon Tea Dance on12th August for full details, see the TSLM Community page.
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7th July 2008: No Congestion Relief Cash From Government
Following the surprising news, from the Government Office for the North West, that the Department for Transport refuses to fund the Park and Ride plan as part of the Heysham M6 lorry link scheme, local MP Geraldine Smith asked a question in Parliament last week about much needed congestion relief measures for the district.
The answer from the Department for Transport reveals that the Government will not fund any congestion relief measures. It’s now up to Lancashire County Council to decide what to do about the traffic gridlock, and for them to come up with the money.
"This is yet another blow to the controversial Northern route scheme and a burden to the people of our district," says David Gate, Chair of Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM) the local campaign group. "The Government will not pay for the Park and Ride because they do not consider it to be an integral part of the massive HGV road scheme: that's an estimated £3.5 million that Lancashire's taxpayers will have to find.
"It is also clear that the Government will not be funding any of the new proposals from the Vision Board’s eagerly-awaited Integrated Transport Study or measures advanced by Geraldine Smith MP and the Chamber of Commerce, so there is no money for Park and Ride, a one way system review, improved public transport or a bridge from Morecambe to Lancaster Luneside."
"We have always said that if the transport budget was blown on the Northern route there would be nothing left for local congestion relief, and that has just been confirmed by the Government."
"There is nothing positive for Lancaster and Morecambe in the Link road plans: it is just a lorry attracting route to Ireland, which will cause massive pollution and destroy our Green Belt. Its time that North Lancashire’s needs were given priority by the Government and Lancashire County Council, with effective plans to deal with our congestion and
support for our ongoing regeneration initiatives."
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23rd June 2008: Link road and Park and Ride- Government 'throws the wrong bit away'
Hopes for congestion relief for Lancaster suffered a setback when the Government told Lancashire County Council to remove the Park and Ride plan at J34 of the M6, from the Council's bid for funding of the controversial Heysham M6 Link road scheme.
"We think that they have thrown the wrong bit away," said David Gate chair of local transport campaign group Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe (TSLM). "Clearly, the Government could see that the Park and Ride was only added to the funding bid as last minute window dressing, for an otherwise destructive and damaging plan. Park and Ride is not an integral part of the HGV route plan.
"LCC has sold this road scheme - to the people of Lancaster & Morecambe and
to the Public Inquiry - as "integrated" with congestion-relieving measures. We've always said that's a sham - it's just a road scheme. This news shows that the Government doesn't believe them either, and agrees with us.
"With large scale development plans for Lancaster well in hand, the in-town traffic congestion problems for Lancaster and Morecambe are set to get worse. Other groups led by Geraldine Smith and the 'Vision Board' are pressing for another bridge into Lancaster, and other congestion-relieving measures, like rapid transit, park & ride, and a one-way system review. But the regional transport budget is already overspent by £187 million, and the Link road costs keep going up.
"The big question is: where is the money coming from to pay for the district's congestion relief in these tough economic times? The Link road would cost at least £185 million without the Park and Ride, and all it would do is attract more heavy goods vehicles into the district and destroy our Green Belt. There is a big transport funding issue for our district: the authorities are not tackling the main problem, congestion. The County Council should drop the underperforming road plan and use the money on a package of less damaging alternative measures designed to combat congestion and be of benefit to the area as a whole."
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17th June 2008: TSLM Fund raising boot sale held on 8th June
Report & pictures on the TSLM Community page
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13th June 2008: TSLM Annual General Meeting:
Four years on - a political sea change, and the Northern route plan now makes no sense at all.
On 20th May, TSLM held its fourth Review of the Year and Information Night (Annual General Meeting). Supporters were brought up to date with TSLM's activities over the past year, and our strategy for the future.
The event drew over sixty concerned residents to the Vale of Lune Rugby Club to hear from TSLM's strategy committee. No less than eleven TSLM members were eager to outline ongoing initiatives, from fund raising to letter writing, from leafleting to alternative solutions. Everyone was pleased to see such a high level of commitment, professionalism and diverse activity from the group.
To put matters simply, the £200 million monster road is now mired in controversy. It has not been given the funding go ahead, and the planning decision is under scrutiny in the High Court.
Nationally, fuel prices have gone through the roof; the days of carefree motoring and cheap HGV freight on our roads have gone forever. In other towns, like Manchester, the authorities are looking at alternative transport solutions, like improving public transport infrastructure and congestion charging.
In our district, not even the Councillors are touting the lorry-generating Link road as an answer to our transport problems. Indeed, our MP and the Chamber of Commerce want to invest in another Lune bridge, and the Council sponsored Vision Board is sitting on a £120,000 report by expert consultants, which recommends a package of innovative and integrated transport measures.
The regional transport budget is believed to be overspent by £181 million, and tough economic times lie ahead. If the Link did get the financial go ahead, there would be nothing left in the transport kitty to address Lancaster and Morecambe's congestion woes, and we would be stuck with a lorry-attracting road that, from the outset, 76% of local people said they didn't want.
It’s about time Preston-based County Councillors played catch-up: road building is destructive, expensive and it does not solve congestion; alternative solutions are out there, are being considered by forward-thinking authorities, and have been advanced for our district by TSLM for the last four years!
From day one, the Northern route plans have been criticised because the monster would destroy 173 acres of Green Belt, massively increase greenhouse gasses, and do little or nothing for our congestion problems.
Nothing has changed in four years, but the politics that swirl around this damaging and expensive plan have swung around markedly. Now, we are all aware of climate change: the government says we must cut emissions, but this scheme does the exact opposite. Soaring fuel prices show the folly of building more and more roads.
Last June, Lancaster City Council voted to withdraw support from the scheme. It is now up to the dinosaurs at Lancashire County Council to listen to local people and move on. Be assured that TSLM will continue to tell them just that as we continue our campaign to stop the Monster road.
At the meeting, TSLM made this statement about the ongoing legal challenge:
A high court action was filed on 18th March, by a resident of Russell Drive, against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears. Lancashire County Council is named as an interested party to the action.
It is understood that the claimant seeks an order quashing the Secretary of State’s decision, which had granted planning permission for the link road.
The road would apparently be built 200 metres away from the claimant’s house at a height of 8 metres. She is concerned that she and her neighbours would suffer noise, air and light pollution.
TSLM understands that the claimant will seek to show that she has been
substantially prejudiced by errors of law, in the approach to, and lack of adequate reasons for, the Secretary of State’s decision.
The case is likely to last for several months, and while it is before the Court, and because TSLM is not a party, it is not appropriate for TSLM to comment further upon it.
We do wish to acknowledge that we support the claimant’s cause and we send to her our very best wishes for her success.
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20th May 2008: No joined up thinking on congestion measures. Don’t splash all the cash.
Great ideas are coming forward all the time to tackle congestion in Lancaster and Morecambe.
MP Geraldine Smith is leading a campaign to build another road bridge into Lancaster from Morecambe. Transport consultants working for the Vision board have come up with a range of transport ideas for the district, to deal with the local congestion nightmare. But Lancashire County Council, stuck in the past, is still trying get its hands on taxpayers’ money to pay for its lorry attracting £189 million Link road to Heysham port, which everyone sees will not tackle the district’s congestion.
Geraldine Smith MP, backed by the Chamber of Commerce, favours a new bridge scheme, and practical measures to improve traffic flow on Morecambe Road. Transport consultants Faber Maunsell have made a whole range of recommendations in their soon to be published £120,000 report, including 'rapid transit' between Morecambe, Lancaster and the University, Park and Ride 'Interceptor' Parking Strategy, and a one way system review.
With new developments going ahead at Luneside and Kingsway, and new plans for the Canal Corridor, the district’s already intolerable congestion problems are set to get much worse, with little or no relief from the new Link road.
"Several recommendations in the report look interesting, as alternatives to road building. Easing congestion between Lancaster and Morecambe should be the number one priority", said David Gate, chair of Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe, (TSLM), the local transport campaign group. "But the authorities don't seem to do joined up thinking. They want to splash all taxpayers’ cash on this one road scheme. It’s their only solution. We say: try the alternatives first. The regional transport budget is already overspent: don’t blow it all on the lorry attracting Link road.
"The Council admits to £140 million, but with compulsory purchase orders, damage claims and optimism bias, the likely ball park figure is now around £200 million.
“If the road goes ahead, there will be no money left for the realistic and practical measures to solve congestion that the district desperately needs.
“The choice is stark: measures to combat local congestion, or more lorries, more pollution and no Green Belt."
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10th March 2008: Uphill struggle for County on Link road cost
A question raised in Parliament by local MP Geraldine Smith has put Lancashire County Council (LCC) under the financial spotlight (Link). Last month, it issued a press release telling the public that Hazel Blears had given the controversial Heysham M6 Link road the go ahead (Link). In that release, it stated that the costs stood at £105 million.
Geraldine Smith MP questioned the Secretary of State for Transport on the funding, and Minister Rosie Winterton replied on 6 March that LCC had informed the Government that the latest 'outturn total cost' is estimated to be £140 million.
"It seems that the costs have leapt up by £35 million in one month," said David Gate, chair of transport pressure group TSLM, who favour
alternatives to road building. "The whole costs issue is likely to be a big headache for LCC. Its next step in the process is to convince the
North West Regional Assembly to support the scheme at the increased cost. The NWRA transport budget is already believed to be overspent by some £131 million.
"Even if the NWRA wanted to continue with this destructive and polluting, Green Belt destroying road, the whole issue would then go
back to the Department for Transport, who are considering the Link road’s bid for funding, submitted way back in July 2005. Here the County Council has to add a 35% 'optimism bias' to the £140 million, that's a whopping total of £189 million."
"LCC certainly have their work cut out to get their hands on the taxpayers’ money. With no answer to local congestion, no improvements to public transport and no extra bridge into Lancaster included in the package, the Link road looks like very poor value for money for everyone."
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28th February 2008: What will be lost? - Summer & Winter view from a garden on Russell Drive Torrisholme, where the proposed dual carriageway will pass through these fields at more than 26 feet high!
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16th February 2008: Message to TSLM Supporters - the fight’s not over yet!
Dear supporters,
You will have heard that the Link Road has been given planning permission. It is bad news. But it’s not the final answer. The road still has many hurdles to cross.
And TSLM will carry on fighting the Monster Road every step of the way.
We are taking legal advice to see if we can challenge the decision. We’ll keep you informed.
In the meantime, we have been asked by many shocked and deeply concerned people what they can do to stop this road that would so damage our district, and bring so few benefits.
The road has not got government funding yet.
It is important to make your views known now.
So please write to Rosie Winterton, Minister for Transport.
Ask her not to fund this destructive, polluting and underperforming scheme.
Copy your letter to our MP and councillors
Write to the press
Tell them the road:
- Will not solve local congestion
- Will not bring jobs. Job forecasts have been proved to be unfounded.
- Will damage our environment, our Green Belt and our health
- Will increase greenhouse gases which cause climate change
- At £160 million for 3 miles of road, it is not value for money
- There is widespread public opposition to the scheme across the district
At the Public Inquiry, TSLM showed that the road will cause great harm to the environment and Green Belt, and increase emissions of greenhouse gases. The Inspector agreed.
But he approved the scheme because he said there was no alternative. We disagree.
We agree with Lancaster City Council which voted against the scheme and for a package of measures to solve congestion. In a recent local survey, people’s preferred options were a public transport link between Lancaster and Morecambe, a Lune Bridge, and increased investment in trains & track. There are many more options.
Our MP Geraldine Smith is still opposing the scheme.
If anyone had taken the trouble to consult the public at the outset, they would have discovered that the vast majority of people who have to live with the consequences of this scheme are, and remain, opposed to it.
We have all fought long and hard for 3 years. We must keep fighting now.
If it goes ahead, it would be only the start of the destruction or our Green Belt.
- There are many hurdles still for this road scheme to cross
- The political climate is moving against building destructive roads. France has already embargoed them.
We must keep on fighting the Monster road
Please keep displaying your posters
Please ask relatives, friends and neighbours to write
David Gate
TSLM
February 2008
Rosie Winterton, Minister for Transport
Write to:
Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State for Transport, Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR
or email rosie.winterton@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Geraldine Smith MP
Write to: Geraldine Smith MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
or email smithg@parliament.uk
Your local City and County Councillor
For City Councillors see
http://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/mgMemberIndex.asp
For County Councillors see http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/council/councillors/MyCouncillorFind.asp
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8th February 2008: ‘Monster Road’ plan approved: but it still won’t work.
Despite opposition from the district's MP, a withdrawal of support by Lancaster City Council, and a massive “NO” from the public, the Government today announced planning permission for the building of the controversial Heysham M6 Link road. The unpopular road will destroy 173 acres of the North Lancashire Green Belt and bring noise, vibration, light and air pollution to at over 1,000 households within 200m of the massive HGV dual carriageway.
"We at TSLM are devastated by the news, and we know that the decision will generate shock and anger across the district,” says David Gate, chair of transport campaign group TSLM who opposed the scheme at last year’s public inquiry. “This destructive road is a link to Heysham ferry port, nothing more. It won’t solve congestion, which is what concerns most people in the area. It won’t bring jobs to the area: those claims were shown to be pie in the sky. But it will bring pollution: 24,000 extra tones of CO2. With the whole world concerned about global warming, that’s exactly the wrong road to go down.
"The Government has sent a confusing message to the public. Last week it gave the go-ahead to two environmentally friendly public transport tram initiatives in nearby Blackpool and Manchester, worth over £187 million. This week it dumps an underperforming lorry attractor on Lancaster and Morecambe at a cost of £118 million and rising.
“But there is still a long way to go. Funding has not been approved by the Government. The fight will certainly continue against this scheme and for sustainable transport measures that people want and that really work.”
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