"
" Follow%on'report'by'the'North'West' " Transport'Roundtable'and'the' Campaign'for'Better'Transport'to'the' critiques'commissioned'by'them'in' their'January'2013"‘contrary'case’' document':'‘A"folly"in"the"making’" '''''July'2013' June More'reasons'why'the'A6%Manchester'Airport'' SEMMMS'Road'should'not'be'commissioned!
The only SEMMMS measures that local authorities have so far progressed are road building ones.
The'SEMMMS'rail'recommendations'that' ought'to'be'delivered'first'–'before'plans' for'road'building'are'progressed'further:''' improve'the'frequency'of'radial'services' into'Manchester,'station'environments,' car'parking'at'stations'and'rolling'stock'..' bring'about'an'‘urban'metro’'system'..' introduce'tram%trains'&'smart'ticketing'..' re%open'Cheadle'and'Baguley'stations''''0" " 6/1/2013' " More'reasons'why'the'SEMMMS'A6%Manchester'Airport'Relief' Road'should'not'be'commissioned' ' CONTENTS'
' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ''''''''Page'
Introduction' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '3'
Endorsements' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '4'
SEMMMS'final'report''
The'recommendations' ' ' ' ' ' ' '''5''%''11'
An'examination'of'the'progress'of'the'recommendations' ''12'%''20'
Summary'situation' ' ' ' ' ' ' ''''''''''21'
Organisational/'policy'changes'that'influenced'–'or'failed'to'influence'–' the'multi%modal'studies'and'national'studies/'policy'directions/'' legal'obligations'since'the'2001'SEMMMS'final'report' ' '''22'–'34' ' Recently'delivered'or'committed'schemes' ' Sub'national'rail'initiatives' ' ' ' ' ' '''35'%''37' ' Metrolink' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ''''''''''''38'
Trunk'road'initiatives' ' ' ' ' ' ' ''''38'%'39'
Conclusions'drawn'from'the'preceding'analysis:'' ' ' ' ''''''''''''40'
Commentary'&'conclusions'by'transport'consultant'Keith'Buchan' ''''41'%'47'
Another'plea'to'government'&'promoting'local'authorities' ' ' '48' ' '
Thanks'are'due'to'David'Butler,'Janet'Cuff,'Tony'Fawthrop,'Andrew'MacFarlane'and'Keith' Pennyfather'for'their'contributions'to'this'report.''
2" NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 More'reasons'why'the'SEMMMS'A6%Manchester'Airport'Relief' Road'should'not'be'commissioned' ' INTRODUCTION' As"their"response"to"the"first"full"public"consultation"on"the"SEMMMS"A6 LILLIAN'BURNS' ' ' ' ' '''''''SIAN'BERRY' Convenor' ' ' ' ' ' '''''''Road'Campaigner' North'West'Transport'Roundtable' ' '''''''Campaign'for'Better'Transport' Greater'Manchester'Transport'Resource'Unit,''''16'Waterside,' St.'Thomas'Centre,' ' ' ' ''''''''44%48'Wharf'Road,' Ardwick'Green'North,' ' ' ' ''''''''London,''N1'7UX' Manchester,'M12'6FZ.' ' e:''[email protected]' ' ' '''' ' ''''e:'[email protected]" Website:''www.nwtar.org.uk' ' '''''''''''''''''Website:'www.bettertransport.org.uk''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''' NW 'TAR' ''''''''''''' ' 3" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ' This'report'is'also'endorsed'by:' The'Campaign'to'Protect'Rural'England'(CPRE),'Lancashire'Branch'' ' ' ' ' Friends'of'the'Peak'District' ' ' Cyclists'Touring'Club' ' ' ' Friends'of'the'Earth' ' ' ' 4" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 SEMMMS'FINAL'REPORT'RECOMMENDATIONS' The"South"East"Manchester"Multi"Modal"Study"(SEMMMS)"was"one"of"a"series"of"Multi< Modal"Studies"commissioned"by"the"Department"for"Transport"(DfT)"in"the"late"1990s"to" investigate"transport"corridors"judged"to"have"transport"issues"and"to"come"forward"with" packages"of"multi " 4'' A'fundamental'condition'to'the'recommendations'in'respect'of'road%building'was' that'existing'road'space'relieved'of'traffic'by'new'roads'should'be're%allocated'to' sustainable'modes''of'transport'and'to'support'regeneration'initiatives.'' " The"SEMMMS"report"said:" “Integral"to"the"recommendations"outlined"…"is"a"further"recommendation"that"road" space"on"roads"relieved"by"new"construction"is"reallocated"to"pedestrians,"cyclists," public"transport"and"to"support"urban"regeneration"initiatives.""The"exact"nature"of" the"reallocation"must"be"a"matter"for"the"implementing"authorities"and"should"be" informed"by"detailed"investigation"of"local"needs"and"priorities,"supported"by" consultation"with"local"residents"and"businesses."" " "If"new"roads"are"built"without"road"space"reallocation"elsewhere,"the"traffic" generation"which"will"result"will"lead"to"a"failure"to"achieve"the"benefits"that"have" been"identified"as"resulting"from"the"recommended"strategy”.""" (Para."7.11,"page"110"–"our"underlining)"""""" ' ROAD'SPACE'' 5'"" The"point"about"the"reallocation"of"road"space"was"re METROLINK' There"were"two"key"recommendations"relating"to"light"rail:" " 6' that"there"should"be"an"extension"of"Metrolink"beyond"Stockport"to"serve"Portwood," Bredbury,"Romiley"and"Rose"Hill,"Marple"and" " 7"" that"there"should"be"a"link"between"Stockport"and"the"Wythenshawe"loop"(part"of"the" Manchester"Airport"extension)"which"could"utilise"part"of"the"New"Mills"to"Heaton" Mersey"freight"line"through"the"Mersey"Valley.""" " 6" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 It"is"also"worth"mentioning"that"one"of"the"suggestions"considered"by"the"steering"group" was"the"possibility"of"running"trams"between"Manchester"Airport"and"South"East" Manchester/"North"East"Cheshire"along"the"A555"Manchester"Airport"Link"Roads."" However,"this"did"not"appear"in"the"final"recommendations"and"was"not"pursued." " Both"the"proposal"to"run"the"Metrolink"to"Rose"Hill"and"the"one"to"connect"to"the" Wythenshawe"loop"would"involve"partial"shared"running"with"heavy"rail"services." ' These"proposals"would"make"it"possible"to"travel"by"tram"from"Rose"Hill"via"Stockport"to" Manchester"Airport"and"from"Rose"Hill"to"Manchester"city"centre"and"beyond.''' (Paras."7.19"&"7.20,"page"111)." " 8' In"addition,"there"was"a"suggestion"in"the"heavy"rail"section"that,"whilst"re The"key"finding"in"respect"of"heavy"rail"was"that"”the"South"East"Manchester"rail"network"is" an"under"used"asset”"and"the'key'necessity'was'“increasing"Manchester"Hub"capacity”"even" though"central"Manchester"was"officially"outside"the"study"area"(paragraph"7.34,"page"120)." " 10' Short'to'medium'term'recommendations'were'that':' ' • the'frequency'of'the'study'area'rail'services'be'enhanced'insofar'as'the'Manchester' Hub'capacity'constraints'allow' • the'services'in'the'study'area'move'towards'a'clock'face'timetable' • rolling'stock'be'upgraded' • station'environments'be'enhanced'' • car'parking'at'stations'should'be'improved' " It"was"foreseen"that"these"measures"could"be"delivered"through"the"Northern"and"Trans" Pennine"franchises"that"were"in"the"process"of"being"awarded.""(Para."7.37,"page"121"–" our"highlighting).""" " 7" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 11' In"addition,"it"was"argued"that"the"construction"of"new/re BUS" 14" The"Quality"Bus"Corridor"(QBC)"service"along"the"A6"from"Manchester"to"Hazel"Grove" (the"now"long 8" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 Plus"two"orbital'QBC"corridors:" • A627/B6104"Hyde ' 15''Further,'an'integral'part'of'the'recommended'strategy'was'an'extensive'series'of'bus' priority'measures'–'all'aimed'at'getting'people'to'the'Airport.""These"were"outlined"as:" "“An"integral"part"of"the"recommended"strategy"is"a"series"of"bus"priority"measures"" "associated"with"Skyline"+"branded"services"linking"Gatley,"Cheadle,"Cheadle"Hulme,"Hale," Altrincham,"Sale"and"Wythenshawe"to"the"Airport.""It"is"intended"that"a"similar"quality"of" services"be"provided"on"the"Skyline"services"as"the"QBCs"(defined"by"the"vehicles"used," information"provided,"the"quality"of"waiting"environments"and"the"like”."""" (Para."7.24,"page"119"–"our"highlighting)" " 16'''In"addition,"a"range"of"other"improvements"were"suggested"to:" • bus"stations"and"public"transport"interchanges" • bus"stop"environments,"directly"or"as"part"of"urban"regeneration"initiatives,"and"" • the"quality"and"scope"of"timetable"information"available" (Para."7.31,"page"120)" ' ' TRANSPORT'CHANGE' ' Recommendations"relating"to"‘transport"change’"fell"into"three"categories:" " • behavioural"change" • land 10" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 and" " “There"should"be"a"presumption"against"development"adjacent"to"the"proposals"for" new"roads"along"the"protected"alignments"of"the"remitted"schemes"which"form"part" of"this"strategy”" (Paras."7.62"&"7.63,"page"129"–"our"highlighting)." " 19' The"‘Urban'Regeneration’"category"strongly"urged"that"local"centre"action"plans"were" drawn"up"to"encourage"people"to"shop"locally"(and"therefore"more"sustainably)"and" for"local"centre"managers"to"be"appointed.""The"argument"was:"“if"people"use"local" centres"more"frequently,"accessing"them"on"cycle"or"bus,"they"will"use"car? dependent"centres"and"facilities"less"and"thus"travel"less"by"car”.""(Our"highlighting)." " FREIGHT'" " 20" Getting"more"freight"onto"rail"was"identified"as"a"key"issue"under"this"heading"and," here"again,"solving"the"problems"of"the"Manchester"Hub"was"seen"as"key"to"achieving" this"aim.""(Para."7.5,"page"124)" " INTERCHANGE' "" 21" The"major"thrust"here"was"the"need"for"seamless"interchange"between"modes"and" this"would"be"achieved"through"bringing"about"the"improvements"identified" elsewhere.""This"would"all"be"facilitated"by"the"introduction"of"smart"ticketing"and" real"time"information.""Key"interchange"points"identified"were"Altrincham," Manchester"Airport"and"Ashton INTEGRATION' ' 22' Another"key"recommendation"was"that"‘smartcards’"should"be"introduced"to" facilitate"seamless"integration"between"public"transport."""The"SEMMMS"report"said:" " " The"natural"extension"to"the"bus"Quality"Partnerships"is"the"integration"of"bus,"rail" and"Metrolink"both"physically"and"in"their"use"through"fares,"ticketing"(using" smartcards"for"example),"services"and"information”" " (Para."5.40,"page60)" " " Further"references"to"smartcards"appear"in"the"SEMMMS"final"report"in"table"6.9"on" page"92"and"in"paragraph"7.70"on"page"131." 11" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 AN'EXAMINATION'OF'THE'PROGRESS'OF'THE'SEMMMS'RECOMMENDATIONS'' ' ROADS' ' On"roads,"SEMMMS"recommended"that"all"the"remitted"schemes"except"the"Poynton< Macclesfield"one"should"be"built"to"dual"carriageway"standard"and"at"‘at’"grade"(less"visual" impacts"than"grade"separated"but"more"interactions"with"existing"traffic"flows).""It"said,"if"the" Poynton √" 1" Regardless'of'the'fact'that'traffic'growth'has'flattened'out'for'years,'the'' proposal'still'being'pushed'by'the'principal'authorities'of'Stockport'MBC,' Manchester'City'Council'and'Cheshire'East'Council'is'that'the'A6% Manchester'Airport'Road'should''be'built'and'to'dual'carriageway'standard.' And,'post'2019,'Stockport'has'prioritised'the'delivery'of'the'SEMMMS'A6' Stockport'North%South'Bypass'(A6't'Hazel'Grove'to'M60'at'Bredbury).' ×" 2" The'proposal'is'that'many'of'the'A6%Manchester'Airport'Road'junctions'' ' ' should'be'grade'separated'(ie.'of'a'higher'standard'than'recommended)' ×" 3''" Despite'there'being'no/'little'increase'in'traffic'in'the'Poynton%Macclesfield'' corridor'over'the'last'10'years'and'despite'a'new'‘shared'space’'junction' arrangement'having'been'introduced'on'the'A523'in'the'centre'of'Poynton'%' which'is'enabling'traffic'to'move'more'smoothly'%'Cheshire'East'Council'are' moving'forward'with'designing'what'they'are'now'calling'the'‘Woodford% Poynton'Relief'Road’'(WPRR).'This'comprises'two'former'SEMMMS'schemes' %'the'Poynton'Bypass'and'Poynton%'Macclesfield'Improvement.''The'WPRR,' a'north%south'road,'would'intersect'with'the'A6%Manchester'Airport'Relief' Road,"an'east%west'road,'on'or'near'the'former'BAe'site'at'Woodford'and' connect'with'the'northern'end'of'the'Macclesfield'Silk'Road.''Once'the'A6' Stockport'Bypass'was'built,'therefore,'it'would'encourage'strategic'traffic'to' use'these'and'feeder'roads'to'access'and'egress'the'motorway'network." " ROADS'&'ROAD'SPACE' ×' 4'&'5' A'fundamental'SEMMMS'requirement'%'that'road'space'relieved'of'traffic'' by'the'building'of'new'capacity'must'be're%assigned'%'is'being'ignored."There" are'no'plans'to're%allocate'freed'up'road'space'to'pedestrians,'cyclists'and' public'transport'and/or'give'it'over'to'regeneration'schemes.''This'failure'to' ‘lock'in’'the'claimed'‘benefits’'of'building'the'A6%Manchester'Airport'Road' (formerly'the'A555'Manchester'Airport'Link'Roads'and'the'northern'tip'of' the'Poynton'Bypass)'–'or'the'Woodford%Poynton'Relief'Road'that'is' currently'being'promoted'by'Cheshire'East'Council'is'a'major'short%coming.'' Also,'neither'area%wide'traffic'calming'measures'nor'cycle'networks'have' materialised'either.''" " 12" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 METROLINK' ×' 6'&'7''The"SEMMMS"report"made"the"assumption"that"the"Metrolink"extension"to"" Stockport"town"centre"would"happen,"and"in"the"not"too"distant"future,"and" went"on"to"make"suggestions"which"would"carry"on"from"that.""Unfortunately," this"sustainable"transport"intervention"has"languished"compared"to"the"road< building"proposals"in"the"South"East"Manchester/North"East"Cheshire"area.""" Road ×' 8'&'9' Mixed'use'rail'lines'and'tram'trains'have'also'not'yet'been'progressed"due" to"constraints"on"officer"time"and"an"emphasis"on"delivering"the"SEMMMS" road"schemes.""Yet"as"the"SEMMMS"report"itself"acknowledged"such"schemes" have"a"huge"potential"to"address"previous"planning"decisions"that"have"led"to" high"car"ownership,"especially"in"areas"of"South"East"Manchester"and"North" East"Cheshire"(para."5.14).""The"whole"concept"of"tram " HEAVY'RAIL' ×' 10' The'frequency'of'rail'services'into'central'Manchester'from'South'East' Manchester/'North'East'Cheshire'has'decreased'since'the'SEMMMS'report' was'published."""As"predicted,"once"the"Virgin"west"coast"main"line"services" from"Manchester"to"London"were"increased"from"two"to"three"an"hour"in"late" 2008,"the"local"services"were"badly"affected."Not"only"are"they"fewer"but"their" reach"and"connection"options"were"impacted.""Whereas"many"trains"formerly" went"on"to"Oxford"Road"and"Deansgate,"they"nearly"all"terminate"now"at" Piccadilly.""An"extra"peak"hour"service"between"Hazel"Grove"and"Piccadilly"was" dropped,"causing"overcrowding"and"two"trains"from"Chester"in"the"morning" peak"now"terminate"at"Stockport"and"two"start"from"there"in"the"evening" peak"because"of"train"path"congestion"between"Stockport"and"Manchester."" But'this'state'of'affairs'is'not'irreversible,'especially'post'the'Northern'Hub' improvements.''This'is'fortunate'because,'ironically,'despite'poorer'local' services,'demand'has'increased'in'line'with'national'trends."" " There"are"plans"for"extra"car"parking"at"Stockport"Station"as"part"of"the"Grand" Central"redevelopment"but"it"is"a"moot"point"as"to"how"much,"if"any,"benefit" rail"travellers"will"get"as"the"new"multi"storey"car"park"on"land"previously"used" for"car"parking"will"have"to"provide"for"the"new"commercial"developments."" " As'to'station'environment'improvements,'there'are'a'few'planned,'eg.'at' Stalybridge'(which'is'welcomed),'but'otherwise'there'have'mainly'only'been' a'few'small'measures'here'and'there"such"as"some"additional"parking"at"Rose" Hill"and"Marple"and"an"increase"in"its"service"to"half"hourly"that"has"generated" extra"passengers.""" " Park"and"ride"has"been"established"at"Guide"Bridge"station"where"trains"now" depart"from"every"25"minutes"on"a"clockface"pattern"but"a"charge"of"£3"to" park"has"discouraged"usage.""" " Real"time"information"has"been"brought"to"some"stations"such"as"Marple"and" Cheadle"Hulme"which"has"also"had"more"accessible"footbridges"installed"but"" many"stations"still"do"not"have"screens,"eg."Navigation"Road,"Hale,"Prestbury" and"Adlington"and"many"have"had"no"improvements"in"the"12"years"that"have" elapsed"since"the"SEMMMS"report"was"published."Least"has"happened"in" Cheshire"East"and"the"Peak"Park.""Also,"uncomfortable,"noisy"and"passenger< unfriendly"Pacer"trains"are"still"in"widespread"use"throughout"the"area." 14" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ×" 11""""No'new'stations'have'opened'between'Stockport'and'Altrincham'although" the"demand"for"them"is"taken"as"a"given." ×' 12' An'‘urban'metro’'system'has'not'been'developed'and'neither'a'western'nor'' an'eastern'rail'link'into'Manchester'Airport'have'been'taken'forward.""Nor" are"western"or"eastern"rail"routes"into"Manchester"Airport"contained"in"any" Network"Rail"future ×' 13' None'of'the'new'stations'quoted'that'appeared'in'the'Local'Transport'Plan'' have'yet'been'commissioned,'not'even'Baguley'where'Metrolink'will'cross' the'Altrincham%Stockport'line'nor'Cheadle"which"appeared"to"be"on"the" cards"a"few"years"ago"–"despite"positive"a"recognition"by"Transport"for" Greater"Manchester"of"the"existence"of"a"good"case"for"these"two."" " BUSES' ' ×' 14' Although'there'have'been'some'improvements'on'a'number'of'key'' corridors'identified'in'the'SEMMMS'final'report,'as'outlined'in'the' ‘SEMMMS"QBC"Programme"Report’'published'by'the'SEMMMS'project'team' and'Greater'Manchester'Passenger'Transport'Executive,'none'of'the' proposed'new'radial'or'orbital'Quality'Bus'Corridors,'or'the'Stockport% focused'QBCs,'recommended'have'come'to'fruition'as'envisaged'(ie.'over' and'above'the'192'Manchester%Hazel'Grove'service'along'the'A6'which'had' already'been'sanctioned'prior'to'SEMMMS).' """ Just"one"will"be"partially"delivered"(Didsbury 15" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ?' 15' Similarly,'no'new'quality'bus'corridors'have'opened'up'to'the'airport."" There"is"a"limited ×' 16' In"Greater"Manchester"a"number"of"bus"stop"environments"have"improved"" but"widespread"real"time"information"has"not"been"rolled"out.""There"has"not" been"an"across TRANSPORT'CHANGE' ?' 17' It"would"be"fair"to"say"that"work"on"behavioural"change"began"in"earnest"in"" most"Local"Authorities"following"the"release"of"government"funding"which" made"it"possible"for"them"to"employ"travel"plan"co 16" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 Cheshire"County"Council"appointed"both"a"walking"officer"and"a"cycling"officer" to"write"strategies"to"feed"into"their"first"Local"Transport"Plan.""The"former" lasted"as"long"as"it"took"to"write"the"strategy.""The"latter"a"little"longer"but" neither"were"replaced"with"full"time"dedicated"officers"when"they"left"and"the" new"Unitary"Authority"of"Cheshire"East"Council"(CEC)"has"never"appointed" either"a"walking"or"a"cycling"officer."""Stockport"MBC"made"a"Rights"of"Way" Officer"who"was"responsible"for"a"‘Walkaday’"programme"redundant"a"few" years"ago.""It"has"a"cycling"officer"who"conducted"consultation"on"an"emerging" cycling"strategy"but"the"strategy"has"since"been"‘paused’"–"for"some"years."" " A"rare"Active"Travel"boost"would"occur"if"Transport"for"Greater"Manchester’s" bid"for"the"CycleCity"Ambition"Grant"is"successful.""In"their"bid"they"said:""" “the"outcome"of"our"Velocity"2025"programme"–"our"target"–"is"to" secure"at"least"a"300%"increase"in"the"levels"of"cycling"across"Greater" Manchester"by"2025.""We"want"to"see"the"proportion"if"trips"by"bicycle" increase"to"10%"over"the"next"12"year,"which"we"believe"is"achievable" alongside"additional"Government"funding”.""" " This"kind"of"increase"in"cycling"would"significantly"reduce"congestion"on"the" road"network"and,"along"with"improved"public"transport,"would"be"a"much" more"cost ×" 18' Regarding'land'use,'it'can'certainly'not'be'claimed'that'the'presumption' against'placing'development'close'to'the'new'roads'has'been'avoided.""In" fact,"quite"the"contrary"is"the"case"with"the"A6 Meanwhile'Manchester'City'Council,'contrary'to'the'advice'given'by'the' panel'of'planning'inspectors'at'the'North'West'Regional'Spatial'Strategy' examination'in'public,'has'given'planning'permission'for'an'‘Airport'City’' development'at'Manchester'Airport."Because"of"this,"Trafford"MBC"withdrew" (during"its"Local"Plan"process)"its"intention"to"place"back"into"Green"Belt"the" area"of"Davenport"Green"alongside"the"airport"in"order"that"it"could"be"used" for"commercial"purposes."""This"all"came"about"as"a"result"of"an"Enterprise" Zone"being"declared"for"the"airport"with"the"express"intention,"according"to" the"Chancellor,"of"providing"jobs"for"a"deprived"area.""If"this"is"the"aim,"then"it" could"be"argued"that"local"transport"measures"and"educational"programmes" should"be"the"answer,"not"building"a"new"strategic"road"to"the"airport"that" would"enable"people"living"some"distance"away"to"commute"to"the"airport.""" ' Additionally,'it'should'be'noted'that'the'impacts'on'traffic'of'expanding'the' ‘World'Freight'Centre’'at'Manchester'Airport'and'fully'exploiting'the' Enterprise'Zone'proposition'(including'building'on'Davenport'Green)'have' not'been'comprehensively'incorporated'into'the'traffic'model.''' ' It'is'not'possible'to'tell'what'the'impacts'would'be'on'local'communities'of' traffic'and'emissions'as'a'result'of'building'the'A6'Manchester'Airport'road.' '' ×" 19" As"far"as"aspirations"for"‘urban"regeneration’"in"the"form"of"thriving"local" centres"have"been"concerned,"it"would"appear"that"the"contrary"has" happened.""Local"centres"have"continued"to"struggle"and/or"fail"in"the"last"12" years"(it"is"questionable"as"to"whether"this"has"been"a"sufficiently"highly"rated" policy"matter"with"adequate"funding)"and"there"are"more"failing"shops"in"the" bigger"centres"as"well"due"to"the"continued"growth"of"Internet"shopping.""" " Stockport"has"the"dubious"reputation"of"being"the"largest"town"centre"with" the"greatest"number"of"empty"shops"in"the"country"and"has"been"seriously" criticised"for"not"spending"the"Portas"Pilot"Scheme"funding"it"was"awarded."" The"recently"up √" 20' Despite"challenging"economic"conditions"and"the"removal"of"grants"for"a"" period,"rail"freight"has"grown"steadily"since"the"mid"1990s"<"mainly"due"to" private"sector"investment."""It"will"also"benefit"from"the"Northern"Hub"plans." " " 18" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 INTERCHANGE' ?' 21' On"the"subject"of"interchanges,"it"has"been"a"question"of"three"steps"forward"" and"three"steps"back.""The"three"centres"identified"–"Altrincham,"the"airport" and"Ashton"<"have"all"benefitted"from"improvements"and"investment"in"new" infrastructure,"or"are"about"to.""Links"between"bus,"tram"and"train"have"been" improved"at"Altrincham,"a"cycle"hub"introduced"and"CCTV"improved.""" " But"an"excellent"interchange"idea"just"along"the"tracks"from"Altrincham"that" emerged"from"the"MIDMAN"multi ?' 22' Since"the"SEMMMS"final"report"was"published,"there"has"been"much"work"" done"on"the"concept"of"introducing"smartcards/"smart"ticketing"and"it"does," finally,"seem"to"be"a"realistic"possibility"but"the"fact"of"the"matter"is"that"–"12" years"on"–"it"is"still"not"in"place."" " 19" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 " " " " " " " SEMMMS FINAL REPORT, 2001 " " “Finally, it is stressed once again that the " strategy recommended by this study must be " " implemented in its entirety if its benefits are " to be fully realised. It is not possible to pick " and choose elements from the strategy " " because they are apparently the most popular " or are easy to or quick or cheap to implement. " " The full benefits from the strategy will only be " seen when it is implemented as a whole. If " " this should be proved not possible, the entire " strategy will need to be reviewed. " " With the continuing commitment of the local " authorities and the funding support of the " " Government, combined with the widespread " support indicated for the strategy from the ' consultation programme, an environment has ' been established for the successful ' implementation of the study’s ' recommendations”. ' (Para. 10.13, page 183) ' " ' ' 20" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ' SUMMARY'SITUATION' ' Only"two"of"the"22"SEMMMS"final"report"recommendations"can"be"said"to"have"definitively" moved"in"the"direction"of"the"recommendations.""One"is"the"road"building"proposals"and"the" other"is"rail"freight.""The"former"have"been"remorselessly"pursued"by"the"three"promoting" authorities,"despite"a"massive"change"in"the"surrounding"circumstances,"but"without"the" mitigating"benefits"that"were"considered"to"be"essential,"and"the"latter"has"come"about"as"a" result"of"private"enterprise.""" " Three"other"recommendations"(annotated"with"question"marks)"are"very"much"‘work"in" progress’"–"behavioural"change,"including"active"travel,"interchanges"and"integration"in"the" form"of"smartcards/"smart"ticketing.""Meanwhile,"although"no"Quality"Bus"Partnership"or" Corridor"has"been"established"intoto"–"in"the"form"originally"envisaged"<"between"South"East" Manchester"or"North"East"Cheshire"and"the"airport,"there"is"one"non 21" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ORGANISATIONAL'AND'POLICY'CHANGES'THAT'INFLUENCED'%'OR'FAILED'TO' INFLUENCE'%'THE'MULTI%MODAL'STUDIES'AND'NATIONAL'STUDIES/'POLICY' DIRECTIONS/'LEGAL'OBLIGATIONS'SINCE'THE'2001'SEMMMS'FINAL'REPORT' ' ORGANISATIONAL'AND'POLICY'CHANGES'THAT'INFLUENCED'–'OR'FAILED'TO'INFLUENCE'%' THE'MULTI%MODAL'STUDIES'' ' The"multi 22" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 A"further"matter"which"unduly"affected"all"the"multi 23" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 The"Stern"Review"on"’The"Economics"of"Climate"Change’"was"also"published"in"2006."It"stated" categorically"that"all"countries"would"be"affected"by"climate"change"and"all"needed"to"play" their"part"in"addressing"it.""Stern"was"in"favour"of"carbon"pricing,"Eddington"of"road"pricing."""""""" " Towards'a'Sustainable'Transport'System'TaSTS' ' Following"on"from"the"Eddington"report,"the"DfT"published"‘Towards"a"Sustainable"Transport" System’"(known"as"TaSTS)"in"October"2007"which"said:""" " ‘The"Eddington"study"confirms"that"transport"is"vital"to"the"economy.""But"he"does"not" see"a"need"to"criss5cross"the"country"with"new"links.""He"argues"for"a"targeted" approach"to"the"most"seriously"congested"parts"of"our"urban,"national"and" international"networks.""And"he"stresses"that"an"innovative"approach"which"makes" the"most"of"existing"networks"through"good"regulation,"and"which"sends"the"right" price"signals"to"users"and"transport"providers,"is"likely"to"be"just"as"important"as" further"investment"in"new"infrastructure”"" (Para"5,"page"7,"Executive"Summary)." " Later"it"referred"to"the"flattening"out"of"traffic"growth"and"the"challenges"ahead:" " “…."Transport"demand"is"not"growing"as"fast"as"it"used"to.""Meeting"the"transport" needs"of"a"modern"economy"whilst"delivering"CO2"reductions"is"still"a"challenge"but" not"an"insuperable"one”" (Para."7,"page"8,"Executive"Summary)." """"""" It"then"goes"on"to"set"out"the"type"of"structured"approach"to"transport"interventions"which" WebTAG"(web “We"need"a"new"approach"to"strategic"transport"planning"which"reflects"the"big" transport"challenges"and"the"proper"role"of"government"and"others.""The"key"steps"are" (1)"clarity"about"policy"goals,"(2)"identifying"the"transport"challenges;"the"measurable" outcomes"which"support"goals"and"the"detailed"geographical"analysis"which"identifies" specific"pressures,"(3)"generating"options"to"address"them"and"(4)"selecting"the" options"that"deliver"the"best"value"for"money"in"the"context"of"sustainable" development”"" (Para."9,"p.8)." The"document"identified"several"goals,"which"included"addressing"climate"change"and" reducing"greenhouse"gas"emissions.""One"was:" " “to"improve"quality"of"life,"including"through"a"healthy"natural"environment”"" and"it"recognised:"""" 24" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 “Transport’s"negative"impacts"on"quality"of"life"are"obvious"–"on"noise"and"vibration," on"biodiversity"and"landscape,"amongst"others.""These"impacts"undermine"people’s" well5being"and"must"be"reduced”"" (Para."15,"p.10)." Amongst"the"concluding"statements"in"the"Executive"Summary"are:" Since"two"thirds"of"trips"and"over"half"of"car"journeys"in"the"UK"are"less"than"five"miles" long,"measures"to"change"travel"behaviour"and"reduce"the"need"to"travel"in"urban" areas"could"bring"significant"benefits.""This"means"that"while"central"government" needs"to"set"the"framework"on"pricing"and"technology,"there"is"a"clear"local"role"in" encouraging"modal"shift"and"reducing"people’s"need"to"travel.""Achieving"this"will" require"sustained"local"action”"" (Para."27,"p.12)." TaSTS"set"out"how"a"cross ' Roads'–'Delivering'Choice'and'Reliability'–"DfT"–"July"2008" This"command"paper"set"out"options"for"managing"roads.""It"focused"mainly"on"making" better"use"of"existing"road"capacity,"expected"developments"in"vehicle"technology"and" improving"the"physical"resilience"of"the"roads.""In"the"Foreword,"the"Transport"Secretary," Ruth"Kelly"M.P.,"said:" “While"there"is"undoubtedly"a"case"for"adding"some"new"road"capacity,"we"must"also" consider"innovative"options"for"the"future.""This"means"focusing"less"on"new"tarmac" and"more"on"the"capacity"and"ability"of"existing"roads"to"handle"people"and"goods"–" in"buses,"coaches"and"cars"and,"for"shorter"trips,"cycling"and"walking”"" (p.5)." The"Introduction"pointed"out:" “…""there"can"be"scope"for"re5prioritising"the"road"space"to"help"deliver"a"reliable" pattern"of"public"transport,"particularly"local"bus"services,"and"encourage"cycling"and" walking"for"short"trips.""And"travel"planning"by"business"can"also"help,"for"example"by" providing"secure"cycle"parking"or"arranging"car"pooling"for"staff." Local"authorities"have"the"scope"to"create"innovative"packages"that"bring"together" initiatives"to"manage"demand,"manage"traffic"flow"and"invest"to"give"people"real" choices"on"how"they"travel”."" "(Paras."3.2"&"3.3,"p.22)." 25" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 In"conclusion"it"said:" Given"the"limits"to"adding"new"road"capacity,"we"need"to"engage"people"in"debating" the"choices"that"have"to"be"made,"for"example"in"promoting"car"sharing,"public" transport,"walking"and"cycling"and"other"practical"ways"of"getting"the"most"out"of"our" road"capacity”" (Para."1.27,"page12)" http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/introt oroads/roadcongestion/roadscommandpaper1.pdf" ' Delivering'a'Sustainable'Transport'System'(DaSTS)"main"report"–"DfT"–"November"2008" ‘Delivering"a"Sustainable"Transport"System:"Main"Report’"(DaSTS)"followed"on"from"" ‘Towards"a"Sustainable"Transport"System"(TaSTS)."It"set"out"the"then"government’s"long<" term"approach"to"transport"planning,"which,"despite"the"change"of"government,"has"never" formally"been"withdrawn"or"replaced." " It"establishes"five"goals"for"transport,"with"the"biggest"focus"on"the"challenge"of"delivering" strong"economic"growth"while"at"the"same"time"reducing"greenhouse"gas"emissions."It" therefore"still"has"a"strong"strategic"fit"with"current"Government"policy." " The"five"goals"(refined"from"those"in"TaSTS)"are:<" " • to"support'national"economic'competitiveness"and"growth,"by"delivering" reliable"and"efficient"transport"networks;"" " • to"reduce"transport’s"emissions"of"carbon"dioxide"and"other"greenhouse"gases,"with" the"desired"outcome"of"tackling'climate'change;" "" • to"contribute'to'better'safety,'security'and'health'and"longer"life"expectancy"by" reducing"the"risk"of"death,"injury"or"illness"arising"from"transport,"and"by" promoting"travel"modes"that"are"beneficial"to"health;"" " • to"promote'greater"equality'of'opportunity'for"all"citizens,"with"the"desired" outcome"of"achieving"a"fairer"society;"and" "" • to"improve'quality'of'life'for"transport"users"and"non “The"government"has"committed"to"a"reduction"of"at"least"80%"in"greenhouse"gas" emissions"by"2050"compared"to"1990"levels"and"is"also"committed"to"demanding" overall"targets"for"2020.""In"this"context,"the"pressing"need"to"reduce"transport’s" greenhouse"gas"emissions"(primarily"CO )"is"clear…"we"shall"be"looking"to"maximise" 2 the"contribution"from"improving"the"carbon"efficiency"of"all"modes"of"transport," encouraging"behavioural"change"and"supporting"the"provision"of"lower5emission" transport..."We"will"also"want"to"consider"improvements"that"enable"people"and" freight"to"shift"to"lower"carbon"modes"of"transport”"" (Paras"7<9,"inc.),"and"" " that"“the"Government’s"commitment"to"addressing"climate"change"has"brought" sharply"into"focus"the"pressing"need"to"reduce"greenhouse"gas"emissions"and"the" scale"of"the"reduction"that"is"required”"" (Para"1.23)" " This"is"simply"one"of"a"range"of"changes"to"national"policy"that,"while"not"changing"its" direction"on"climate"change,"have"raised"its"importance"and"the"urgency"with"which"it"must" be"tackled."" " The"report"makes"a"strong"case"for"pursuing"such"alternatives"to"road Low'Carbon'Transport:''A'Greener'Future'–"DfT"–"July"2009' Described"as"‘A"carbon"reduction"strategy"for"transport’,"‘Low"Carbon"Transport:""A"Greener" Future’"commits"to"reducing"carbon"partly"through"vehicle"technological"improvements"and" more"electrification"of"the"railways"and"partly"through"the"promotion"of"sustainable"travel." " 27" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 The"then"Transport"Secretary,"Lord"Adonis,"declared"in"the"Foreword"that"" “Putting"Britain"on"the"path"to"a"low"carbon"future"is"one"of"my"key"tasks”" " and"went"on:" “Avoiding"dangerous"climate"change"means"we"must"act,"both"in"the"UK"and" internationally,"to"reduce"greenhouse"gas"emissions"from"transport”" And"he"said"he"wanted"to:" “promote"more"active"modes"of"travel"[because]"Cycling"has"enormous"growth" potential"as"a"healthy,"convenient"and"green"option.""That"is"why"the"government" is"promoting"cycling"demonstration"towns"and"cities"across"the"country”""" (Pages"3"&"4)" The"Executive"Summary"pulls"no"punches"in"discussing"the"challenge"of"climate"change:" " “Climate"change"is"already"happening"and"we"need"to"act"collectively"and" decisively"if"we"are"to"avoid"the"worst"impacts"it"could"bring.""The"scientific" consensus"tells"us"that"by"2050"we"must"strive"to"reduce"global"greenhouse" gas"emissions"by"at"least"50%." A"developed"country"like"the"UK"must"go"even"further.""This"is"why"we"have" taken"ground5breaking"steps"through"our"Climate"Change"Act,"setting"a"target" to"reduce"UK"greenhouse"gas"emissions"by"at"least"80%"by"2050”" And"it"goes"on:" “…"decarbonising"transport"must"be"part"of"the"solution.""This"will"be"a"major" change,"but"moving"to"a"low"carbon"economy"and"transport"system"also" presents"huge"opportunities;"not"just"for"climate"change"but"for"our" prosperity,"health"and"wider"environment”" " " (Page"5)" "Under"‘Promoting"the"integration"of"transport"modes’"it"states:" “Better"co5ordination"and"integration"of"different"services"will"improve"the" attractiveness"and"convenience"of"public"transport.""For"example,"we"are"keen" to"promote"the"use"of"smart"ticketing"which"allows"passengers"to"move" seamlessly"between"different"modes""…""" In"addition"to"smart"ticketing,"improving"interchange"between"cycling"and" other"forms"of"travel"is"also"important.""Whilst"60%"of"the"population"lives" within"a"quarter"of"an"hour"cycle"ride"of"a"railway"station,"only"2%"of"journeys" to"and"from"stations"are"made"by"bike.""There"is"a"huge"opportunity"here”." " " (Page"9)" 28" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 " The"strategy"also"launched"initiatives"to"support"the"transfer"of"freight"to"rail"and"water"and" to"track"carbon"emissions"from"road On"‘The"need"to"travel’"the"strategy"said:" “We"also"recognise"that"there"can"be"opportunities"for"reducing"the"amount"we"need" to"travel.""We"see"two"main"areas"of"possibility.""First"is"the"use"of"information" technology"which"has"the"potential"to"enable"access"to"the"people,"goods"and"services" we"need"without"having"to"travel." The"second"opportunity"is"spatial"planning."The"patterns"of"transport"demand"is"heav5 ily"affected"by"the"way"we"use"land"and"we"need"to"ensure"that"the"planning"system" takes"full"account"of"the"potential"consequences"of"development"for"transport”" (Page"11)" " http://www.official " Creating'Growth,'Cutting'Carbon'–"DfT"White"Paper"–"January"2011" ‘Creating"Growth,"Cutting"Carbon:"Making"sustainable"local"transport"happen’"is"very"much"a" follow In"addition,"the"White"Paper"was"used"to"launch"a"Local"Sustainable"Transport"Fund"(LSTF)."" From"2011,"Local"Authorities"could"bid"for"funds"from"the"DfT"and"money"was"awarded"rom" later"that"year"on"three"tranches.""Total"funding"for"the"programme"is"£600m.""However," from"2015,"LSTF"funds"will"be"folded"into"the"new"Single"Growth"Fund"as"announced"in"the" 2013"Spending"Review."" The"executive"summary"opens"with:" “Our"vision"is"for"a"transport"system"that"is"an"engine"for"economic"growth,"but"one" that"is"also"greener"and"safer"and"improves"quality"of"life"in"our"communities”" " 29" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ""And"it"accepts:" “.."we"need"a"coherent"plan"to"reduce"the"carbon"emitted"by"transport,"not"least"in" order"to"meet"our"binding"national"agreements”" (Page"7)" However,"it"states:" “The"Government"believes"that"it"is"at"the"local"level"that"most"can"be"done"to"enable" people"to"make"more"sustainable"transport"choices"and"to"offer"a"wider"range"of" genuinely"sustainable"transport"modes"–"environmentally"sustainable"as"well"as" fiscally,"economically"and"socially"sustainable”""" (Page"8)" We"would"contend"that"Lancashire"County"Council"are"not"acting"in"the"way"the"government" says"it"would"like"to"see"them"acting"by"proposing"to"build"a"new"road"which"will"pump"more" greenhouse"gas"emissions"into"the"atmosphere"and"not"achieve"modal"shift.""They"will"not" be"‘Making"sustainable"local"transport"happen’." " http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/making ' Natural'Environment'White'Paper'–'DEFRA"–"June"2011" DEFRA"published"the"Natural"Environment"White"Paper"in"June"2011.""‘The"Natural"Choice:" securing"the"value"of"nature’"was"described"in"the"Foreword"by"the"Secretary"of"State"for" Environment,"Food"and"Rural"Affairs,"Caroline"Spelman,"M.P,"thus:""" “This"White"Paper"–"the"first"on"the"natural"environment"for"over"20"years"–"places" the"value"of"nature"at"the"centre"of"the"choices"our"nation"must"make:"to"enhance"our" environment,"economic"growth"and"personal"wellbeing.""By"properly"valuing"nature" today,"we"can"safeguard"the"natural"areas"that"we"all"cherish"and"from"which"we" derive"vital"services”" The"definition"of"the"natural"environment"contained"in"the"White"Paper"was"very"broad:" “It"covers"living"things"in"all"their"diversity:"wildlife,"rivers"and"streams,"lakes"and"seas," urban"greenspace"and"open"countryside,"forests"and"farmed"land.""It"includes"the" fundamentals"of"human"survival:"our"food,"fuel,"air"and"water,"together"with"the" natural"systems"that"cycle"our"water,"clean"out"pollutants,"produce"healthy"soil," protect"us"from"floods"and"regulate"our"climate.""And"it"embraces"our"landscapes"and" our"natural"heritage”"" (Highlighted"box,"page7)" " 30" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 The"White"Paper"emphasised"and"re “Nature"is"a"complex,"interconnected"system.""A"healthy,"properly"functioning"natural" environment"is"the"foundation"of"a"sustained"economic"growth,"prospering" communities"and"personal"wellbeing." This"is"why"we"must"properly"value"the"economic"and"social"benefits"of"a"healthy" natural"environment"while"continuing"to"recognise"nature’s"intrinsic"value."The" government"wants"this"to"be"the"first"generation"to"leave"the"natural"environment"of" England"in"a"better"state"that"it"inherited”"" (Executive"Summary,"para."1,"page.3)." " (http://www.official " Biodiversity'2020'–"DEFRA"strategy"–"August"2011" ‘Biodiversity"2020:"A"strategy"for"England’"wildlife"and"ecosystem"services’,"also"published"by" DEFRA,"followed"on"from"the"Natural"Environment"White"Paper"and"also"from"the"Lawton" Review"(by"Professor"Sir"John"Lawton)"that"highlighted"the"value"of/"threats"to"and"the" urgent"need"to"tackle"the"loss"of"biodiversity."" The"strategy"had"four"key"themes:" (1)"A"more"integrated"large"scale"approach"to"conservation"on"land"and"at"sea,"" (2)"Putting"people"at"the"heart"of"biodiversity"policy," "(3)"Reducing"environmental"pressures"and"" (4)"Improving"our"knowledge.""" Under"the"third"of"these,"a"priority"‘Planning"and"development’"action"(3.4)"was:" “Through"reforms"of"the"planning"system,"take"a"strategic"approach"to"planning"for" nature"within"and"across"local"areas.""This"approach"will"guide"development"to"the" best"locations,"encourage"greener"design"and"enable"development"to"enhance"natural" networks.""We"will"retain"the"protection"and"improvement"of"the"natural"environment" as"core"objectives"of"the"planning"system”""" (Summary,"page"39)" And"a"priority"‘Air"pollution’"action"(3.11)"was:" “Reduce"air"pollution"impacts"on"biodiversity"through"approaches"at"national,"UK,"EU" and"international"levels"targeted"at"the"sectors"which"are"the"source"of"the"relevant" pollutants"(nitrogen"oxides,"ozone,"sulphur"dioxide,"ammonia)”"" (Page"40)." 31" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 " Like"the"White"Paper,"this"document"also"flagged"up"Nature"Improvement"Areas"and"the" need"to"for"biodiversity"to"be"taken"into"account"in"all"decision There"is"a"pledge"in"para."2.8"of"the"Biodiversity"2020"document"to"the"effect"that"DEFRA"will" continue"to"work"with"the"Department"for"Transport"to"explore"means"of"further"reducing" emissions"from"transport." " www.defra.gov.uk/publications/files/pb13583 " National'Planning'Policy'Framework'–"DCLG"–"March"2012" The"National"Planning"Policy"Framework"(NPPF)"was"published"at"the"end"of"March"last"year" by"the"Department"for"Communities"and"Local"Government"(DCLG).""It"sets"out"the" government’s"new"planning"policies"for"England"and"how"these"are"expected"to"be"applied."" On"the"subject"of"nationally"significant"infrastructure"projects"it"says:" “This"framework"does"not"contain"specific"policies"for"national"infrastructure"for" which"particular"considerations"apply.""These"are"determined"in"accordance"the" decision5making"framework"set"out"in"the"Planning"Act"2008"and"relevant"national" policy"statements"for"major"infrastructure"as"well"as"any"other"matters"that"are" considered"both"important"and"relevant"(which"may"include"the"National"Planning" Policy"Framework).""National"policy"statements"form"part"of"the"overall"framework"of" national"planning"policy"and"are"material"considerations"in"decisions"on"planning" applications”""" (Para."3,"p.1)" We"contend"that"there"are"many"policies"in"the"NPPF"which"apply"to"the"HM6L"and"which" demonstrate"a"‘changed"policy"context’"from"when"the"road"was"previously"submitted"to" public"inquiry.""" ‘Achieving"sustainable"development’"is"at"the"heart"of"the"NPPF.""In"the"Foreword"to"the" document,"the"Minister"for"Planning,"Greg"Clark,"M.P."says:" “Sustainable"means"ensuring"that"better"lives"for"ourselves"don’t"mean"worse"lives" for"future"generations”" 32" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 And"the"document"proper"opens"with"a"highlighted"box"about"sustainable"development.""It" quotes"the"fact"that"resolution"24/187"of"the"United"Nations"General"Assembly"defined" sustainable"development"as:"" “meeting"the"needs"of"the"present"without"compromising"the"ability"of"the"future" generations"to"meet"their"own"needs”.""" It"also"references"the"UK"Sustainable"Development"Strategy,"‘Securing"the"Future’"and"the" five"guiding"principles"of"sustainable"development"that"it"eschews:"" • “living"within"the"planet’s"environmental"limits;" • ensuring"a"strong,"healthy"and"just"society;" • achieving"a"sustainable"economy;" • promoting"good"governance"and" • using"sound"science"responsibly”." (Para."5)"" We"would"argue"that"building"a"new"road"across"a"narrow"wedge"of"Green"Belt"that" separates"Greater"Manchester"from"the"settlements"of"Cheshire,"destroying"vistas"and" landscapes"at"the"same"time,"does"not"constitute"sustainable"development.""" " Nor"does"the"fact"that"it"would"increase"greenhouse"gas"emissions,"reduce"the"amount"of" vegetation"available"to"absorb"CO2"emissions"and"lead"to"a"reduction"in"air"quality." " The"existence"of"a"new"road,"based"on"many"other"examples"around"the"country,"would" almost"certainly"attract"infill"development"which"would"create""more"traffic"movements"and" even"more"negative"effects"(refer"to:"‘Beyond"Transport"Infrastructure’,"report"by"Transport" for"Quality"of"Life"for"the"Campaign"to"Protect"Rural"England"and"the"Countryside"Agency," July"2006"–"www.transportforqualityoflife.com/u/files/Beyond 33" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 “contributing"to"protecting"and"enhancing"our"natural,"built"and"historic"environment" and,"as"part"of"this,"helping"to"improve"biodiversity,"use"natural"resources"prudently," minimise"waste"and"pollution"and"mitigate"and"adapt"to"climate"change"including" moving"to"a"low"carbon"economy”"" (Para."7,"p.3).""" Consequently,"we"maintain"that"the"HM6L"road"would"not"meet"the"aspirations"for" sustainable"development"expressed"in"paragraph"9"of"the"NPPF.""It"says:" “Pursuing"sustainable"development"involves"seeking"positive"improvements"in"the" quality"of"the"built,"natural"and"historic"environment,"as"well"as"people’s"quality"of" life”" (Page"3)." The"NPPF"devotes"a"chapter"(Chapter"4)"to"‘Promoting"Sustainable"Transport’.""We"quote" here"from"it:" “Transport"policies"have"an"important"role"to"play"in"facilitating"sustainable" development"but"also"in"contributing"to"wider"sustainability"and"health"objectives."….." The"transport"system"needs"to"be"balanced"in"favour"of"sustainable"transport"modes," giving"people"a"real"choice"about"how"they"travel”"" "(Para."29,"p.9)" “Encouragement"should"be"given"to"solutions"which"support"reductions"in"greenhouse" gas"emissions”" "(Para."30,"p.9)" “…"Plans"and"decisions"should"take"account"of"whether"the"opportunities"for" sustainable"transport"modes"have"been"taken"up,"depending"on"the"nature"and" location"of"the"site,"to"reduce"the"need"for"major"infrastructure”" (Para."32,"p."9"&10).""" “Planning"policies"should"aim"for"a"balance"of"land"uses"within"their"area"so"that" people"can"be"encouraged"to"minimise"journey"lengths"for"employment,"shopping," leisure,"education"and"other"activities”" "(Para."37)." " NW"TAR"and"CfBT"maintain"that"the"concept"of"the"A6 ' ' ' ' 34" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 SUB'NATIONAL'RAIL'INITIATIVES' " Northern'Hub' " The"Northern"Hub"is"a"transformational"programme"of"targeted"upgrades"to"the"railway"in" the"North"of"England"–"most"of"them"in"the"Greater"Manchester"area.""It"is"scheduled"to" provide"space"for"44"million"more"passengers"a"year." " Although'a'number'of'aspects'of'the'Northern'Hub'may'not,'at'first'glance,'appear'to'be' immediately'relevant'to'the'South'East'Manchester/'North'East'Cheshire'area,'they'will'in' fact'have'a'significant'impact'because'it'will'be'possible'to'do'more'strategic'rail'journeys'' more'easily'and'more'frequently.''As'stated'by'Network'Rail,'this'will'attract'a'huge' additional'volume'of'customers.''While'some'of'these'may'be'leisure'trips,'there'is'no' doubting'the'huge'positive'impacts'on'travelling'for'other'purposes'and'on'modal'shift.""" " According"to"Network"Rail:" " “The"Hub"is"about"the"whole"North.""The"services"and"economic"benefits"run"as"far"as" Newcastle"and"Hull"in"the"East." " (Ref:""htttp://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/northern 35" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 Network"Rail’s"facts"sheet"on"the"Northern"Hub"is"reproduced"below:"" " Northern Hub " " The Northern Hub is Network Rail’s plan to stimulate economic growth by upgrading the rail network of the North. It is about targeted investment to allow the " region to continue to thrive. " " How will we do this? " • Two new platforms t Manchester Piccadilly to allow more trains to run through rather " than terminate in Manchester, providing more direct train services across the North " • The Ordsall Chord to provide a link between Manchester Victoria and Manchester " Piccadilly and allow for the new route across the city. Importantly, there will be no " need to change trains in Manchester. This was funded by government in March 2011. " • New tracks on the line between Leeds and Liverpool and between Sheffield and " Manchester to allow fast trains between the major towns and cities of the North to " overtake slower trains. • In advance of these works, Manchester Victoria will undergo transformation to a " single transport interchange that is safer, better and more spacious. " " Driving economic growth " • £560m of targeted infrastructure investment to help the North continue to thrive " • Over £4bn worth of benefits to the region and potentially 20,000 to 30,000 new jobs. " • Improved railway will allow us to double the capacity of trains into the Trafford Park " freight terminals. " • £4 boost to the economy for every £1 spent. " Faster, more frequent " " • Up to 700 more trains per day with space for 44 million more people to travel by train " each year. " • Two new fast trains per hour between Manchester Victoria and Liverpool. Six fast trains an hour between Leeds and Manchester (as opposed to four now). " • • Journey times between Leeds and Manchester could be reduced by about 10minutes. " • Journey times between Liverpool and Manchester could be reduced by 10-15 mins. " • A new direct service through Manchester city centre to Manchester Airport. " • Faster journey times to Sheffield and the East Midlands, Chester, Bradford, Halifax, " Hull, Newcastle and the North East. " Benefits to business " " • Access to bigger markets; ability to recruit from a wider pool of talent and enable staff " to commute more quickly, greater flexibility and improved business efficiency. " • The Hub will provide the capability to ease road congestion by doubling capacity into " the North’s busiest intermodal container terminal at Trafford Park. • Businesses say there is a need for more freight capacity to transport goods " sustainably and cost-effectively around the country. Every freight train takes 50 " containers off our heavily congested roads. " 36" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 Electrification'in'the'North" " In"addition,"there"is"a"programme"of"rail"electrification"which"will"have"a"significant"beneficial" impact"on"rail"movements." " The"first"phase"of"electrification"work"between"Manchester"and"Newton 37" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 METROLINK' ' Extensions"to"Metrolink,"including"to"the"airport"from"Manchester"city"centre"via"Didsbury," were"on"the"cards"at"the"time"the"SEMMMS"final"report"was"published"<"but"it"is"actually"now" nearing"reality.""The"line"has"already"opened"as"far"as"Didsbury.""The"remainder,"which"will" traverse"part"of"Wythenshawe,"will"open"in"2016"and"it"will"provide"a"tram"every"12"minutes" to"the"city"centre.""Frequent"Metrolink"services"are"also"in"operation"now"extending"out"to" farther"reaches"of"Greater"Manchester,"making"it"a"much"more"attractive"proposition"than"it" was"in"2001"to"travel"into"Manchester"by"heavy"rail"and"onwards"by"light"rail." ''' TRUNK'ROAD'INITIATIVES' ' The"Highways"Agency"are"currently"progressing"two"major"initiatives"–"managed"motorways" and"a"pinch The"‘managed"motorways’"initiative"is"primarily"about"introducing"hard"shoulder"running,"ie." allowing"traffic,"to"use"the"hard"shoulders"of"motorways.""This"involves"making"adjustments" around"bridges"where"hard"shoulders"are"suspended"and"also"at"the"on"and"off"slip"roads" (where"the"hard"shoulder"does"not"carry"through),"the"construction"of"emergency"halts"at" regular"intervals"and"the"erection"of"additional"signage.""In"the"October"2010"Spending" Review"the"Chancellor"announced"that"the"M60"junction"8"to"12"would"become"a"managed" motorway"scheme"with"a"start"of"construction"before"2015."""Earlier"in"2013"there"was"a" consultation"by"the"Highways"Agency"about"introducing"hard"shoulder"running"on"the"M6" between"junction"19"and"the"Knutsford"services"southbound.""" " Pinch%Point'Programme' There"have"so"far"been"three"tranches"to"the"HA’s"Pinch"Point"programme.""The"first"one" included"improvements"around"junction"24"(Denton"roundabout"to"the"east)"of"the"Greater" Manchester"orbital"motorway,"the"M60.""The"second"included"improvements"around"M56" junction"11"at"Daresbury"and"also"to"the"Thorley"Lane"Bridge"over"the"M56.""The"third" provides"a"new"running"lane"that"will"start"from"the"merge"of"the"A556"with"the"M56"at" junction"7"and"continue"for"a"kilometre"to"the"Ashley"Road"footbridge"over"the"M56." " Cumulatively,'these'trunk'road'improvements'to'the'west,'north'and'east'of'Manchester' Airport'will'significantly'increase'road'capacity'for'strategic'traffic'movements'accessing' and'egressing'the'airport'via'the'existing'motorway'network,'yet'they'have'not'been' taken'into'account'in'the'traffic'modelling'for'the'SEMMMS'A6%Manchester'Airport'Road."""" ' 38" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 Action'for'Roads:''A'Network'for'the'21st'Century' " As"the"second"consultation"period"for"the"SEMMMS"A6 39" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 CONCLUSIONS'DRAWN'FROM'THE'PRECEDING'ANALYSIS' The"traffic"growth"predictions"used"in"the"South"East"Manchester"Multi"Modal"Study"(and"in" the"other"multi Report'to'the'North'West'Transport'Roundtable'(NW'TAR)'and'the'Campaign' for'Better'Transport'(CfBT):''SEMMMS'A6'to'Manchester'Airport'Relief'Road' Consultation'Phase'2" Critique'by'Keith'Buchan'(following'on'from'that'in'the'‘Contrary'Case’'document)" Statement"of"qualifications"and"experience"" This"report"has"been"prepared"by"Keith"Buchan,"Director"of"the"Metropolitan"Transport"Research" Unit"(MTRU)"a"position"he"has"held"since"1991."Keith"has"an"MSc"in"Transport"Planning"and" Management"and"is"a"Member"of"the"Chartered"Institution"of"Highways"and"Transportation,"and"the" Transport"Planning"Society"(TPS).""He"was"elected"chair"of"TPS"in"2011"and"after"his"term"of"office"was" complete"he"continues"on"the"Board"and"took"on"the"role"of"Director"of"Policy." Before"setting"up"MTRU"he"worked"for"local"authorities,"including"the"Greater"London"Council,"where" he"became"Head"of"Highways"Policy"Division.""This"included"responsibility"for"the"London"Area" Transport"Model"and"preparing"the"Annual"Transport"Policies"and"Programmes."His"work"has" included"transport"strategy,"environmental"impacts,"modelling"and"forecasting,"demand"responsive" transport,"’new"generation’"bus"priority,"heavy"vehicle"studies"and"both"urban"and"rural"package"and" challenge"bids."This"has"involved"engagement"with"stakeholders"including"individual"local"businesses" as"well"as"their"representative"bodies.""His"work"on"road"pricing"including"a"state"of"the"art"report"in" 1991"(revised"1994)"which"involved"collecting"and"analysing"information"from"proposals"in"Singapore," Cambridge,"Randstad,"Stockholm"and"Milan."Studies"into"road"freight"pricing"in"Europe"and" application"in"the"UK"were"published"in"1996"and"work"for"the"companies"involved"in"HGV"pricing"in" Europe"updated"this"study"in"2011.""He"was"a"member"of"the"EU"Peer"Review"Group"on"reviewing" LHVs"in"2010<2011"and"is"currently"a"peer"reviewer"for"the"European"Parliament"on"this"subject." With"MTRU"he"has"worked"for"a"wide"range"of"clients"in"the"public"and"private"sectors"including"DfT," TfL,"Manchester"and"West"Midlands"PTEs,"City"of"Nottingham,"City"of"Cambridge,"CPRE"(in"the"North" West"and"nationally),"the"then"Countryside"Commission,"English"Heritage,"WWF,"Nottingham" Business"partnership,"Chelsfield,"Westfield,"and"currently"South"Downs"National"Park"Authority."" Keith"was"the"consultant"to"the"first"green"commuter"plans"in"the"UK"in"Nottingham"in"1995"which" helped"to"launch"travel"planning"in"the"UK.""In"2001"he"helped"set"up"the"first"TfL"travel"plan"unit."He" has"undertaken"travel"planning"work"for"Luton"airport,"BAA’s"UK"operations"and"Heathrow"Airport." He"has"also"produced"a"series"of"tourism"and"aviation"demand"studies"including"the"effects"of"UK" ’staycationing’."" In"2008"he"completed"a"major"project"on"climate"change"and"transport"which"was"presented"both"to" Government"and"the"Climate"Change"Committee.""Principles"such"as"the"use"of"continuous"budgeting" rather"than"distant"single"targets"was"analysed"in"detail"and"is"now"widely"accepted,"while"proposals" such"as"the"introduction"of"a"carbon"related"charge"for"vehicles"at"the"point"of"purchase"have"also" been"adopted." 41" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 SEMMMS'A6'to'Manchester'Airport'Relief'Road'Consultation'Phase'2" Introduction" This"update"report"to"NW"TAR"and"CfBT"covers"the"following"key"areas:" (i)" the"consultation"approach"adopted"by"the"current"SEMMMS"team"and"its"relationship"with" the"original"SEMMMS"report" (ii)" the"response"to"the"NW"TAR/CfBT"submissions"and"meeting"as"part"of"the"Phase"1" Consultation"" (iii)" missing"elements"in"the"transport"modelling"process"and" (iv)" the"approach"of"the"SEMMMS"team"to"air"pollution"and"climate"change" " Dependency"on"2001"consultation"for"options" 1" The"Phase"2"consultation"leaflet"still"takes"no"account"of"the"fundamental"criticism"that"the" much"earlier"SEMMMS"process"does"not"avoid"the"need"for"a"proper"assessment"of"options," including"a"public"consultation,"unless"the"SEMMMS"package"as"a"whole"is"implemented.""Without" that,"this"is"an"isolated"road"scheme"and"needs"to"go"through"the"full"Webtag"process,"as"described"in" Unit"1.1"(see"also"points"5"and"6"below)." " Response"to"points"raised"at"the"Phase"1"Consultation"Meeting" 2" The"proposers"have"challenged"NW"TAR"and"CfBT"to"provide"an"alternative"that"should"be" tested"against"the"road"scheme"as"proposed.""We"suggest"that"implementation"of"all"the"sustainable" transport"measures"from"SEMMMS"are"modelled,"including"Smarter"Choices,"which"now"has"a" Webtag"Guidance"Unit"(3.10.6)."""" 3" Also"included"in"the"modelling"should"be"the"effects"of:" • bringing"the"Metrolink"to"Manchester"Airport" • electrifying"the"Trans"Pennine"rail"links" • implementing"the"Northern"Hub"components,"including"the"new"through"platforms"at" Piccadilly"Station"which"have"now"been"given"the"go 42" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 We"suggest"that"review"should"now"be"triggered"by"the"failure"to"move"forward"on"the"very" substantial"sustainable"elements." 6" The"current"promoters"repeat"the"fallacy"that"the"public"has"been"consulted"on"other"options" by"saying"that:" “There"was"ample"opportunity"for"respondents"to"state"if"they"were"opposed"to"the"scheme" and"13%"said"they"were"not"in"favour"of"the"scheme”" The"opportunity"was"not"mentioned"in"the"leaflet,"as"the"front"page"reveals:" “We"are"consulting"on"the"road"scheme"in"two"phases.""In"this"first"phase"we"are"asking"for" views"on"options"for"the"scheme"to"help"determine"a"preferred"scheme”" If"the"SEMMMS"team"do"rely"on"the"original"report"they"would"have"done"well"to"read"the"public" consultation"for"that,"which"did"give"opportunity"for"alternatives"to"be"prioritised.""The"results"were:" " Reproduced"from"SEMMMS"Report" Table"9.2:"Spending"Balance"Indices" Spending"on"Percentage"wanting"increased"spending"minus"percentage"wanting"reduced"spending" Facilities"for"pedestrians"" 68" Bus"and"bus"priority"" " 66" Facilities"for"cyclists"" " 63" Increasing"travel"awareness"" 62" Rail"service"improvements"" 59" Traffic"management"" " 59" Metrolink"extensions"" " 53" Road"building"" " " 14"" " There"are"two"key"points"in"relation"to"this."" 7" First,"to"give"people"a"real"“ample"opportunity”"to"respond,"people"should"have"been"asked" whether"they"preferred"the"money"to"be"spent"on"road"or"public"transport"improvements,"in" particular"in"relation"to"this"scheme,"the"rail"improvements.""We"have"the"2001"view"and"it"is"very" clear"that"their"priority"is"walking,"cycling,"and"public"transport."""" 8" The"second"point"is"that"in"a"time"of"limited"expenditure"and"the"need"for"carbon"reduction" (see"below)"the"public"transport"elements"should"be"progressed"first.""There"are"other"arguments"for" this"in"terms"of"providing"sustainable"development"(compliant"with"NPPF)"and"the"acceptability"of" road"space"reallocation"(another"key"part"of"SEMMMS).""In"terms"of"public"consultation"in"2001" sustainable"modes"including"trains"and"trams"were"a"clear"priority." 9" Also"of"particular"relevance"is"the"government’s"command"paper"of"July"2013:"‘Action"for" roads’"which"does"not"see"the"A6 Data"referred"to"by"the"SEMMMS"team"in"the"Major"Scheme"Business"Case,"Appendix"L" " 10" The"promoters"also"make"the"point"that"little"has"changed"since"SEMMMS"in"terms"of"traffic," referring"to"Appendix"L"of"the"Major"Scheme"Business"Case." 11" There"are"two"fundamental"flaws"in"this"approach.""The"traffic"as"it"is"at"present"is"the"result" of"not'implementing"SEMMMS"and"the"wide"ranging"improvements"could"have"a"dramatic"impact."" This"can"only"be"addressed"by"assuming"that"with"all"the"SEMMMS"package"is"in"place"and"then" assessing"the"impact.""One"way"to"do"this"would"be"use"the"standard"accessibility"mapping"used"for" Figure"6"in"Appendix"L"(we"assume"it"is"Accession)"to"assess"how"far"accessibility"changed"with"the" full"SEMMMS"public"transport"package.""This"is"straightforward"compared"to"conventional"traffic" modelling." 12" Secondly,"no"comparative"table"of"what"SEMMMS"2001"expected"traffic"to"be"and"how"it"has" turned"out.""This"is"basic"to"any"argument"and"is"not"set"out"in"Appendix"L.""This"is"relevant"to" paragraph"4.1"which"discusses"the"change"from"2000"to"2012,"not"the"flows"on"which"the"SEMMMS" conclusions"were"based." 13" Thus"it"is"confusing"in"Figure"2"to"have"2000"actual"compared"to"currently"modelled"2009" base"year.""What"did"SEMMMS"forecast"for"2009"and"beyond"from"2000?""It"should"be"noted"that"the" original"SEMMMS"model"had"a"base"year"of"2000,"and"a"forecast"year"of"2021"(SEMMMS"report,"para" 2.21,"page"18)." 14" The"figures"also"claim"to"show"that"the"main"cause"of"congestion"is"North"South"movement"–" this"is"confirmed"in"Figure"3"which"shows"the"congestion"North"of"the"M60.""However,"this"appears"to" continue"North"of"the"M60,"while"there"are"roads"to"the"South"which"are"less"congested.""It"is"also" interesting"to"note"the"low"number"of"trips"at"the"sites"chosen"with"an"airport"destination.""This" needs"to"be"explored"and"explained"in"further"technical"analysis." 15" In"addition"there"is"a"lack"of"clarity"in"the"argument"that"East"West"traffic"is"using"North" South"routes"(Figures"8"to"13,"Appendix"L).""The"broad"statement"that"rail"has"little"relevance"needs" to"be"tested"in"relation"to"two"missing"elements"which"were"proposed"as"part"of"the"SEMMMS" package:" • Use"of"new"rail/rapid"transit"links"" • Use"of"park"and"ride"at"stations" These"figures"show"either"origins"or"destinations,"but"not"both,"so"it"is"impossible"to"say"whether" they"could"be"served"by"rail.""In"fact,"some"destinations"which"are"included"are"obvious"existing"rail" destinations,"such"as"Stockport"(see"Figures"9"and"10).""Figure"10"also"seems"to"be"wrongly"labelled" and"should"be"“origins”"not"“destinations”."" 16" It"is"also"clear"that"some"of"the"other"destinations"which"are"claimed"to"be"impossible"to" serve"by"rail"may"not"be"so"if"the"full"SEMMMS"package"were"implemented.""The"rail"proposals"are" shown"on"the"following"page"(from"the"SEMMMS"Final"Report"of"2001),"but"Appendix"L"states"after" Figure"9:" “However,"there"are"still"as"significant"number"of"trips"from"areas"further"South"such"as"Bramhall," Hazel"Grove"and"Poynton"which"are"mostly"likely"to"benefit"from"the"proposed"link"road"but"could"not" be"attracted"to"a"public"transport"mode”" 44" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 17" Other"areas,"including"the"High"Peak,"would"also"gain"new"rail"East " 18" Nor"has"the"impact"of"the"SEMMMS"package"for"Metrolink"improvement,"shown"below" (again"taken"from"the"SEMMMS"report).""Again"some"of"the"East"West"car"movements"identified" could"be"attracted"to"the"new"services." " " 19" The"final"issue"in"relation"to"East 45" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 20" Figure"5"claims"to"compare"levels"of"congestion"in"different"cities"in"the"UK.""However,"this" also"needs"to"define"which"areas"are"being"included"in"the"congestion"analysis"–"is"London"really"the" least"congested"city"in"the"UK?" 21" The"final"issue"is"that"the"SEMMMS"references"to"this"alignment"as"a"“local”"road"seem"to"be" contradicted"by"the"clear"intention"to"relieve"the"existing"motorway"network,"provide"substantial" benefits"to"long"distance"traffic,"and"to"draw"traffic"into"the"local"area.""This"will"have"air"pollution" impacts,"especially"when"combined"with"the"lack"of"implementation"of"the"SEMMMS"proposals"for" sustainable"modes." " Carbon"emissions"and"air"quality" 22" The"promoters"also"make"the"more"general"point"that"little"has"changed"in"other"aspects"of" transport"since"SEMMMS"but"this"is"certainly"not"so"in"terms"of"carbon." The"background"guidance"on"carbon"emissions"in"transport"is:"“The"Carbon"Plan:"Delivering"our"low" carbon"future”"of"December"2011.""This"contains"a"clear"target"for"transport"as"follows." “2.75"Domestic"transport"emitted"around"137"MtCO2e"in"2009,"accounting"for"around"24%"of" UK"domestic"greenhouse"gas"emissions"(see"chart"13"below).""Domestic"emissions"from" transport"rose"steadily"between"1990"and"2007,"driven"primarily"by"rising"road"traffic"levels."" They"have"since"fallen"back"to"roughly"what"they"were"in"1990.""This"fall"is"partly"the"result"of" the"recent"economic"downturn,"but"statistical"data"suggests"that"the"main"factors"have"been" improvements"in"new"car"fuel"efficiency"and"the"increased"uptake"of"biofuels,"driven"by" existing"government"and"EU"policy." 2.76"By"2030"we"project"that"current"policies"could"mean"that"transport"emissions"reduce"to" ”" around"116"MtCO2e. After"discussing"the"crucial"role"of"low"energy"cars,"it"goes"on"to"say"that:" “Rail"travel"will"be"substantially"decarbonised"through"further"electrification,"more"efficient" trains"and"lower"carbon"fuels."If"the"Government’s"proposals"for"high"speed"rail"go"ahead,"a" new"national"network"linking"London"to"Birmingham,"Manchester"and"Leeds"will"transform" rail"capacity"and"connectivity,"promoting"long5term"and"sustainable"economic"growth." Passengers"choosing"sustainable"travel"options"such"as"travel"by"public"transport,"cycling"and" walking"will"continue"to"deliver"major"social"and"economic"benefits,"and"alternatives"to" travel,"such"as"working"from"home,"could"increasingly"do"so"too."" 2.80"The"freight"sector"will"have"found"lower"carbon"ways"of"working,"such"as"modal"shift"to" rail"and"water"and"more"efficient"driving"techniques,"and"adopted"the"necessary"ultra5low" carbon"technologies"to"continue"to"supply"the"UK’s"factories"and"consumers"while"cutting" back"carbon"emissions"dramatically.”" 23" Thus"there"is"a"clear"commitment"for"carbon"emissions"from"transport"to"fall"by"just"over" 15%"from"2009"to"2030"as"part"of"the"Government’s"targets"for"carbon"reductions.""In"fact,"taking" into"account"all"the"confirmed"transport"schemes"including"public"transport,"the"A6"to"Manchester" airport"model"predicts:" “Greenhouse"gases:""The"proposed"scheme"is"predicted"to"lead"to"an"increase"in"carbon" emissions"over"60"year"of"approximately"10,300"tonnes”"" 46" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 (Assessment"Summary"Table,"4.3"in"MSBC)" It"is"clear"that"the"current"package"of"transport"schemes"will"completely"fail"to"meet"this"target,"at"a" very"significant"cost." " Outstanding"modelling"issues" 23" There"are"some"detailed"technical"issues"outstanding"which"were"not"answered"in"the" response"of"4th"July"or"need"further"clarification"in"addition"to"the"SEMMMS"related"point"above."" Examples"are"use"of"TEMPRO"and"the"levels"of"public"transport"use"in"the"model.""A"key"one"is"the" model"estimate"for"carbon"emissions"in"the"base"year,"which"has"still"not"been"supplied.""These"will" need"to"be"resolved"at"a"later"stage"–"the"response"to"the"May"17th"Phase"1"Consultation"Meeting" was"only"received"on"4th"July."" " Conclusions" • The"fundamental"criticism"that"the"consultation"depends"upon"the"2001"SEMMMS"report" consultation"and"package"has"not"been"answered."" • The"evidence"for"change"is"weak"and"also"ignores"other"elements"in"the"SEMMMS"package." • The"modelling"and"forecasting"has"several"serious"omissions"in"terms"of"relevant"highway" and"public"transport"schemes,"including:" o The"impact"of"the"full"SEMMMS"package,"especially"rail"and"Metrolink,"" o New"initiatives"on"the"strategic"network,"including"management"of"the"M60," announced"in"July"2013." o Other"planned"rail"initiatives"such"as"the"Northern"Hub"and"Trans • The"carbon"forecasts"show"a"deterioration"as"a"result"of"the"scheme,"and,"despite"requests" during"Phase"1,"there"is"no"base"year"data"yet"supplied"to"assess"the"proposal"against"carbon" targets."" ' ' ' July'19th,'2013' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' 47" " NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6 ' ANOTHER'PLEA'TO'GOVERNMENT'AND'PROMOTING'LOCAL'AUTHORITIES' ' The'North'West'Transport'Roundtable'and'the'Campaign'for'Better'Transport'are'only'too' well'aware'of'–'and'regret'%'the'government’s'current'predilection'towards'road'building.''' We'very'much'welcome'announcements'about'investment'in'other'forms'of'transport' that'will'encourage'people'to'use'their'cars'less'and'sincerely'hope'they'are'progressed' with'the'vigour'they'deserve'but'it'does'appear'to'us'that'thinking'in'terms'of'road'travel' has'turned'full'circle'back'to'that'which'was'reflected'in'the'‘Roads'to'Prosperity’'White' Paper'of'1989.''‘Action'for'Roads’,'published'this'month'by'the'DfT,'bears'many' similarities.''' ' ' However,'in'this'particular'submission,'our'key'focus'is'on'the'SEMMMS'network'of'roads.'' Even'if'national'government'is'currently'minded'to'condone'huge'investment'in'a'major' programme'of'road'widening'and'‘improvements’'on'the'strategic'network,'a'position'we' sincerely'hope'they'will'come'to'reflect'upon'and'change,'we'would'argue'that'the'case' simply'does'not'stand'up'for'the'SEMMMS'roads.'''In'fact,'ironically,'the'case'has' weakened'further'as'a'result'of'the'decision'to'carry'out'significant'improvements'to'the' motorway'network'around'Greater'Manchester.'''Road%based'travellers'from'all'directions' will'find'it'easier'to'access'Manchester'Airport'via'the'motorway'network,'utilising'the' M56'to'run'directly'into'the'airport'zone.''' ' ' Our'plea'to'both'national'and'local'government'is'to'heed'the'arguments'in'this'and'our' previous'submission,'‘A'Folly'in'the'Making’,'and'to'draw'back'from'proceeding'with'the' A6%Manchester'Airport'Road'and'the'other'SEMMMS'Roads.''As'this'report'demonstrates,' there'are'many,'many'other'measures'which'should'be'introduced'in'the'first'instance'–'as' the'SEMMMS'Final'Report'itself'said'in'2001.''It'was'right'about'that'but'wrong'in'its' predictions'for'traffic'growth'which'have'not'transpired.''We'appeal'for'a'fresh'look'at'the' case'for'the'SEMMMS'roads'in'the'light'of'the'evidence'we'have'assembled'in'this' submission'and'in'our'previous'one.' " " North'West'Transport'Roundtable' ' ' Campaign'for'Better'Transport' c/o'Greater'Manchester'Transport'Resource'Unit,' 16'Waterside,' St.'Thomas'Centre,' ' ' ' ' 44%48'Wharf'Road,' Ardwick'Green'North,' ' ' ' ' London,'N1'7UX.' Manchester,'M12'6FZ.' '' 48" "