Object

Representation ID: 1338

Received: 14/07/2008

The BHLR is likely to go to a 'Public Inquiry'. We think it would be wise to have a 'without BHLR strategy' for the following reasons:

The BHLR was a 'departure' from County, District and Borough plans. It has to be re-advertised with further consultation and analysis. Two conditions for ministerial approval have been breached regarding: costs increases (more than doubled); and successful collaboration with the Statutory Environmental Bodies (it wasn't successful). The third condition - securing developer contributions - must be in doubt in the light of current conditions of the housing market. Since the road was conceived, the price of oil has gone up by a factor of almost 4, and concerns over climate change gas emissions are greater than ever (6,000 tonnes of additional Co2 with the BHLR per annum).

We believe that the BHLR should be shelved, and a 'without link road' development model should be examined and that it is dangerously misleading to present BHLR as a likely outcome of current local transport strategy.

Alternatives to BHLR have never been properly appraised.