Time to cancel National Highways’ ‘damaging road schemes’?

Photo: Transport Action Network

Transport Action Network is asking supporters to urge the new Government to cancel current road building schemes and invest in public transport instead. But action is needed before 10 September to influence HM Treasury ahead of the 30 October Budget.

Transport Action Network (TAN) says:

“We are at a crunch point. The Treasury needs to make billions of pounds of savings ahead of the Budget on 30 October. By cancelling National Highways’ damaging road schemes, the Government would save billions. The good news is that would then allow it to invest in public transport.

“Fixing and making our current roads safer and investing in safe cycle routes with all their benefits to health and well-being, air quality and the local economy is what is needed alongside major investment in public transport. Our new government needs to hear this!”

Tell Rachel Reeves before 10 September

TAN is urging supporters to tell Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of the pre-Budget Stakeholder Representation to scrap expensive and low value road schemes, and invest in public transport instead.

You can comment on the HM Treasury portal here, either by  writing a short response (max 250 words), or if you want to make a longer representation by uploading a written document.

Below are some points that TAN suggests including in a submission:

Scrapping damaging road schemes and instead investing in public transport will:

• improve productivity
• safeguard jobs (e.g. UK rail and bus manufacturers)
• make our cities more competitive and grow the economy
• increase opportunities for the many people without a car
• reduce costs for those currently forced to own a car

Many large road schemes have weak business cases and represent low value for money – for example:

• The £10bn Lower Thames Crossing is the most expensive sticking plaster ever, providing only 5 years’ of relief at Dartford – i.e. it has little strategic value
• The £1.5bn A66 Northern Trans-Pennine will cost more that it will deliver in benefits.
• Other roads that should be scrapped include the A47 schemes in Norfolk, A57 in the Peak District, A38 Derby Junctions, A12 Chelmsford, A358 in Somerset, M3 Junction 9 in the South Downs National Park, and A5036 through Rimrose Valley Country Park
• Many of these roads will undermine investment in shifting freight from road to rail (and government targets to do this).

TAN also suggests calling for the reversal of the temporary 5p fuel duty cut.

Read about and get involved in Transport Action Network here.