Lancashire Evening Post Saturday October 29th 2005
Fight over new road is up in the air:
Campaigners fight latest bypass setback
By Emma Broom, Council Reporter
CAMPAIGNERS fighting a controversial by-pass strengthened their opposition today after learning the plans are even more “up in the air” than first thought.
Residents living in Torrisholme, Morecambe, spoke out after learning the Heysham to M6 link road will run past their bedroom windows.
Lancashire County Council has amended the original plans after villagers complained Torrisholme was going to he divided in two by a planned pedestrian subway.
Now, the new plans, which involve raising the height of the road by a further three metres to allow buses and lorries to pass underneath, have also been condemned.
David Gate, chairman of residents’ group Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe, said the road would he 26ft high.
He said: “People have been horrified, it’s like a rollercoaster.
High
No amount of fencing and shrubbery can disguise this monster dual carriageway powering its way through the centre of the community.
“There are 1,074 homes situated less than 200 metres away from the road along its route.
‘Thousands of people will suffer exhaust fumes, noise, vibration, and light pollution. It’s a very obtrusive road SO high in the air.”
Lancashire County Council was criticised after their last exhibition in May when residents realised their community would he split by a subway.
The new plans were unveiled at a public exhibition in Torrisholme Methodist Church and around 400 people attended.
Retired accountant, Mr Gate, 58, who lives on Torrisholme Road, said: “It’s a shame the exhibition was focused only on Torrisholme Affected people from Slyne, North Lancaster and Halton did not get a look in.The previously unseen computer simulations were stark, and didn’t show the many houses that will he close to the route.But you could see how destructive the road would be.We’re sure that it will he stopped when they submit the planning application in December.”
Transport Solutions for Lancaster and Morecambe has received more than 200 written protests to the road in the past few days. It wants the council to consider other options for improving congestion.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council, said: “Following the exhibitions in May, Lancashire County Council carefully assessed comments made by people attending the exhibitions.
Criticised
‘It became evident that the area where the route crosses over the B5321 Torrisholme and Lancaster Road would need to he reconsidered. The proposed Cross Hill underpass for pedestrians and cyclists and the diversion of Torrisholme/Lancaster Road over 300 metres to the northeast were severely criticised. Therefore it is now proposed to provide a full height road bridge, Torrisholme Road Bridge. To achieve this, the route would he raised by some three metres at Torrisholme and Lancaster Road. This would result in the route being at a higher level for over 300 metres, hut the removal of Cross Hill Bridge to the northeast of Torrisholme and Lancaster Road allows the route to he lowered for about 375 metres.”
Last year, Lancashire County Council decided to back the £85m northern bypass, which will arc from Junction 34 of the M6 past Torrisholme to the roundabout at Lancaster and Morecambe College.
However, work is not expected to start for many years on the proposed road.