9.2.07: Public Inquiry Announced into Heysham M6 Link Road

Judgement day on the way for Northern route

Great news for TSLM and the many people who oppose the building of the monster road. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly has listened to the many hundreds of letters she has received, and agreed to grant a public inquiry into the Heysham M6 Link road.

This is a great achievement. We want to say a big thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to fight this misguided road plan, especially to everyone who wrote to GONW and ministers: they have listened. We hope you will all join us now for the final push to stop the monster road!

An independent inspector will now review Lancashire County Council's much-criticised plan to link Heysham’s ferry port to the M6 by building a massive dual carriageway across residential districts, a college campus, and the North Lancashire Green Belt.

The plan is destructive and flawed. Lancashire County Council tried to rush through the hastily conceived plan, just to grab regional funding, without scrutiny and consultation on the detail.

But people have reacted angrily, and several hundreds of them have written letters to the Government pointing out the road’s failings, demanding an independent public inquiry. We are pleased that the Government has seen the limitations of the scheme and agreed to their demand.

It is clear that the road is designed to attract more heavy traffic into the area to use the ferry to Ireland. It would not address the district's congestion problems. It would destroy the Green Belt, have a devastating impact on communities, and do nothing for the area's main regeneration prospects at Bailrigg and Luneside.

The most important issue for the public inquiry is to make sure that the right questions are asked: Does this plan tackle congestion? What is its impact on people? Have alternatives to road building been properly considered? Does the scheme assist the area's main regeneration prospects?” Many people can now look forward to demonstrating that this destructive road fails on all counts.