Breakthrough in deadlock over controversial Sefton road plans
Friends of the Earth has welcomed a report from Sefton Council (released 1 Dec) looking at alternatives to Highways England’s controversial A5036 Port of Liverpool Access Scheme.
The road-building scheme could see Rimrose Valley - a country park and a vital green lung in an area that is already green-space deprived - destroyed by a dual carriageway designed to connect HGV traffic to the motorway network. Friends of the Earth has called for it to be scrapped.
Commenting on the release of the report, Estelle Worthington, North West campaigner, said:
“This could be a real breakthrough in the fight to protect Rimrose Valley and take climate-wrecking HGV traffic off the roads. Planning a huge new road in an area that’s already failing to meet nationally set air quality targets shows a further disregard for the health of the community.
“This new report is the first time that serious consideration has been given to non-road options that could lower congestion in the area. With further plans to expand the port on the horizon the Department for Transport should cancel the proposed new road and commit to funding a sustainable alternative.
“Liverpool city-region has committed to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Recklessly building new roads is not going to get us there. It’s time for Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram to stand against the government’s ridiculous road-building scheme and supports Sefton Council’s call for a better deal for local communities.”
Notes
- Friends of the Earth believes that the 2016 expansion of the Port should never have gone ahead without first investing in sustainable infrastructure and without properly considering the impacts on local communities and the environment.
- The ‘Inland Port and Connectivity Concept’ report was commissioned by Sefton Council and carried out by Arup. It looks at alternative technologies and potential freight logistics solutions.