Transport Update
A46 Newark–Widmerpool Public Inquiry
Evidence was submitted by John Gillespie & Carol Collins on behalf of the Branch to the recently concluded Public Inquiry into the A46 Newark to Widmerpool dualling proposals from the Highways Agency. This followed a series of meetings that Carol and John had with Highways Agency staff. John used the half day allocated to CPRE at the hearing in July to put the CPRE case to the Inspector and to cross-question the Highways Agency staff on matters of detail. John and Carol argued against the dualling throughout, as this would induce an estimated additional 8000 vehicles/day with corresponding environmental costs, and for a wide single carriageway with junction improvements to reduce delays and accidents. In case the inspector finds in favour of dualling throughout, they also commented in detail on several of the junction designs and other aspects of the Highways Agency scheme, putting forward hopefully better alternatives. In doing so they co-operated with other groups of objectors.
National CPRE Transport Matters
John was asked to join a small CPRE working party to comment on national transport matters, in the absence of a national CPRE staff-member with full-time transport responsibility. So far this has involved contributing to a Department for Transport consultation with environmental groups in preparation for the recently published Transport White Paper for the next 30 years – and then commenting on the outcome for CPRE. Sadly the White Paper seems rather a missed opportunity for sensible transport progress. But there you go!
John Gillespie
