NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY URGED TO REJECT LATEST PLANS FOR MOTTRAM TINTWISTLE BYPASS

Countryside watchdogs Friends of the Peak District (FPD) and the Council for National Parks (2), and local groups Save Swallows Wood and Alternative Proposals for Transport are calling on the Peak District National Park Authority to stand by its responsibilities as guardian of the National Park’s precious landscapes and reject the latest road-building plans for the A628.

The Friends and CNP believe that the Highways Agency’s attempts to relieve the congestion bottleneck along the A628 will flood the Peak District with traffic (5) and damage the National Park. The groups are appealing to residents and visitors who value the countryside to register their objections by writing to Authority Chairman Tony Hams (6) ahead of the Authority’s meeting on March 9th which will consider its response to the plans.

"Road-building will not provide a sustainable answer to solving congestion issues and will make the problem worse," explains Friends of the Peak District Transport Campaigner Anne Robinson. "Our worst fears for the future of this special area of countryside are about to be realised and it is the responsibility of the Peak District National Park Authority to stand by its purposes and safeguard the landscape by rejecting these proposals outright.

Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy at the Council for National Parks, said “Major road-building schemes are only allowed in National Parks when it can be shown that there is a national need and no alternative. This bypass fails this strict test on both counts."

Anne added, “The traffic and congestion problems affecting the villages of Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwistle have been ignored for many years. The current road-building proposals will lead to more cars on local roads, including the A628. An alternative does exist and these traffic restraints and safety measures should be urgently implemented to provide immediate relief without destroying valuable countryside."

Ruth Chambers concluded,"Serious questions must be asked of the Highways Agency which continues to promote a scheme that will exacerbate local traffic problems, damage a nationally important landscape and create more carbon emissions. A fundamental re-think by Government is required."

Picture top left: View towards Tintwistle