Help protect our most precious landscapes from road building

Latest news from our network of road campaigners.

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Hello <<First Name>>,

The Government has launched two consultations on the future of major roads in England. We think the priority should be cutting traffic and making existing roads safer and greener, not planning major new roads.

In particular, we’re asking the Government to commit to no new roads and no major road widening in our National Parks, ancient woodlands and other nationally important landscapes and wildlife sites.

And we continue to support local campaigners fighting damaging new road plans in all corners of the country.

Bridget & Chris

No new roads in our National Parks

The second Road Investment Strategy (RIS2) will spend billions of public funds (including Vehicle Excise Duty) from 2020. Plans for the Strategic Road Network are out for consultation until 7 February.

We're particularly worried about plans for new “strategic orbital routes” which could bring a new generation of M25s on green field sites around our towns and cities, while proposals to upgrade A roads to be motorway-standard "expressways" mean concreting over more of our countryside.

Meanwhile the Major Roads Network consultation (which runs until 19 March) is proposing yet more bypasses and link roads, adding to traffic and pollution.

We're asking the Government to commit now as a minimum to no major road widening and no new roads in our National Parks, ancient woodlands and other nationally important landscapes and wildlife sites.

Please add your voice and ensure the Government gets the message that we must not destroy our most precious landscapes.

Say NO to new roads in our National Parks

Verging on the ridiculous

We’re backing Merseyside campaigners’ battle against Highways England plans to build a major lorry route, the Liverpool Port Access road, through Rimrose Valley Country Park. Sefton Council is threatening legal action over the failure to consult on a road tunnel option. Road planners claim a tunnel would be too expensive, so are sticking to their destructive plans, now renamed as a 'bypass'.

Nice verge: shame about the park

Highways England has suggested how the existing A5036 could look once the new road is built, although they have carefully avoided saying who will pay for this makeover. We’re unconvinced that local people will agree that a wider verge is a substitute for their park.

Support the Rimrose campaigners

Road plans fly in face of evidence

"The willingness of Government to make road building the central solution to transport problems is deplorable – that is, if you care to be guided by the best available evidence, efficient use of public funds, and ecological damage."

So says Dr Adrian Davis, Visiting Professor of Transport & Health at the University of the West of England, in a guest blog for our website. He's the latest in a series of academics demonstrating that new roads create new traffic.

We're sharing that message with local authorities as they draw up transport plans, including Transport for the North, Transport for London, and Cambridgeshire.

The facts about induced traffic

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Christmas appeal. Your support helps us keep fighting damaging road plans in the year ahead.

Hello!

We're Chris Todd and Bridget Fox, the roads campaign team at Campaign for Better Transport.

Let us know how we can support you.

Get in touch

Campaigning for cleaner air

Cities and councils across the country are developing plans for Clean Air Zones.

Exeter City Council is considering a charging zone: if this goes ahead it would be the first area-wide road charging zone outside London.

Meanwhile Leeds City Council, which has some of the worst air quality in the country, has missed the opportunity to clamp down on polluting cars and vans: consultation is open until 2 March – have your say here.

Air pollution matters

Roads round-up

Congratulations to Harrogate campaigners who persuaded local councillors to reject plans for a Northern relief road that would destroy the tranquil Nidd Gorge. Now the fight moves on to North Yorks County Council.

CALM (Campaign Against the Levels Motorway) is making a strong case against plans for a new section of M4 motorway near Newport, Gwent.

We have backed Bournemouth area campaigners opposing plans to expand the A338 with a junction on green belt land to serve the controversial Wessex Fields development.

Suffolk campaigners Sudbury Vision are fighting plans to build a Sudbury Western Bypass. This would cross the water meadows made famous in paintings by Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable.

Here for Hereford, Wye Ruin It and Hereford Transport Alliance are campaigning against proposals for a bypass west of Hereford which would do nothing to alleviate traffic congestion in the City.

Last year we joined with Somerset CPRE and other campaigners in calling for a halt to consultation on the A358 near Taunton after locals were faced with one ‘take it or leave it’ option. Highways England has backed down and is now re-consulting with more options.

To share news from your campaign, get in touch.

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Facing damaging road plans?

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It has lots of practical advice on using the media, fund raising and more, plus top tips from other campaigners.

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