1. No category

"
"
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’"
"
June
'''''July'2013'
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'
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''''''''Page'
Introduction'
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'3'
Endorsements'
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'4'
The'recommendations' '
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'''5''%''11'
SEMMMS'final'report''
An'examination'of'the'progress'of'the'recommendations'
''12'%''20'
Summary'situation'
''''''''''21'
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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'
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Recently'delivered'or'committed'schemes'
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Sub'national'rail'initiatives'
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'''35'%''37'
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Metrolink' '
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''''''''''''38'
Trunk'road'initiatives'
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''''38'%'39'
Conclusions'drawn'from'the'preceding'analysis:'' '
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''''''''''''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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Manchester"Airport"
Relief"Road,"the"North"West"Transport"Roundtable"(NW"TAR)"and"the"Campaign"for"Better"
Transport"(CfBT)"produced"a"‘Contrary"Case’"report"which"was"a"series"of"independent"
critiques"about"the"supporting"evidence"that"was"in"the"public"domain"at"that"stage"including"
the"business"case.""The"critiques"were"written"by"professionals"in"the"relevant"fields.""They"
raised"many"pertinent"and"worrying"issues.""The"report,"entitled:""‘A"folly"in"the"making"–"
SEMMMS"A65Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road’,"is"available"to"download"from"the"NW"TAR"
website:""www.nwtar.org.uk"(‘consultations’"page)"where"it"is"listed"under"‘January"2013’."
"
Since"then"some"of"the"report’s"authors"have"met"with"some"key"SEMMMS"team"members"
who"confirmed"that"their"case"for"road"building"was"predicated"to"a"large"extent"on"the"
SEMMMS"findings"that"were"published"in"2001.""They"relied"on"traffic"models"that"predicted"
high"traffic"growth"that"has"not"materialised"and"evidence"from"the"1990s.""At"that"meeting,"
the"environmental"NGOs"present"stressed"how"much"had"happened"and"changed"since"the"
final"SEMMMS"report"was"published"and"the"measures"which"ought"to"be"adopted"before"
road"building"is"even"considered.""We"were"asked"to"catalogue"what"we"were"referring"to.""
This"is"what"we"have"done"in"this"submission,"whilst"assembling"other"arguments.""This"
report"is"also"on"the"NW"TAR"website,"listed"under"‘July"2013’"on"the"‘consultations’"page."
"
This"document"has"been"compiled"by:"
LILLIAN'BURNS' '
'
'
Convenor' '
'
'
'
North'West'Transport'Roundtable'
'
'
'
'''''''SIAN'BERRY'
'''''''Road'Campaigner'
'''''''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]' '
'
Website:''www.nwtar.org.uk'
''''
'
'
''''e:'[email protected]"
'''''''''''''''''Website:'www.bettertransport.org.uk'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''
NW
'
'TAR'
'''''''''''''
3"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<modal"solutions.""Coalitions"of"consultants"were"assembled"to"conduct"
each"study"and"regional"government"offices"took"charge"of"them."""The"SEMMMS"study"was"
co<ordinated"by"Government"Office"for"the"North"West"(GONW)"and"the"consultants"were"
Steer"Davies"Gleave,"Llewelyn"Davies"and"W."S."Atkins.""The"final"report"was"issued"in"2001"
http://www.semmms.info/140683/433764/semmmsstrategyreport."""(N.B."It"did"not"number"
the"recommendations.""The"ordering/numbering"and"synopsis"below"is"the"authors’)."
"
ROADS'
'
1""
"
2"""
3'
Based"on"an"expected"steep"upward"trajectory"for"traffic"growth,"the"SEMMMS"final"
report"recommendation"was"that"all"but"one"of"the"roads"remitted"to"the"study"
should"be"delivered"–"but"at"a"lower"standard"than"they"were"remitted.""It"said"that"
the"A6"Stockport"North<South"Bypass,"the"A555"Manchester"Airport"Western"and"
Eastern"Link"Roads"and"the"A523"Poynton"Bypass"should"all"be"built"to"dual"
carriageway"standard.""Subsequently"the"government"instructed"Stockport"MBC,"
Manchester"City"Council"and"Cheshire"County"Council"to"work"collaboratively."
The"opinion"of"the"consultants"and"the"SEMMMS"steering"group"was"that"the"
junctions"of"the"roads"they"endorsed"should"be"‘at’"grade"(ie."at"ground"level"with"
junctions"that"intersect"with"existing"roads)."""
"
On"the"A523"Poynton"to"Macclesfield"Improvement"Road,"the"report"said:"""
“It"is"judged,"at"this"stage,"that"…"improvements"can"be"achieved"through"on5line"(or"
close"to"line)"improvements.""However,"it"is"accepted"that"more"detailed"investigation"
will"be"required"by"Cheshire"County"Council,"as"highway"authority,"in"conjunction"with"
Macclesfield"Borough"Council,"as"planning"authority.""An"off5Line"scheme"may"be"
required.""If"this"is"the"case,"traffic"forecasts"indicate"a"single"carriageway"scheme"
would"be"sufficient”.""(Para."7.10,"page"109).""""Here"again,"of"course,"it"should"be"
noted"that"the"‘traffic"forecasts’"in"question"all"predicted"a"high"level"of"traffic"growth"
that"has"not"taken"place"in"the"intervening"12"years."
"
Following"these"(fairly"inconclusive)"findings"and"with"no"new"evidence"to"promote"
an"off<line"road,"Macclesfield"Borough"Council"removed"the"protected"line"of"the"
Poynton"to"Macclesfield"Improvement"from"their"Local"Plan"in"2004.""This"was"the"
last"Local"Plan"they"produced"before"Cheshire"was"divided"into"two"new"Unitary"
Authorities"and"the"Macclesfield"Borough"area"became"part"of"Cheshire"East"Council."
5"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
"
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<emphasised"in"the"SEMMMS"
report"in"the"section"on"the"‘Use"of"Road"Space’"where"it"is"also"recommended"that,'
prior'to'the'new'roads'being'built:'
• area%wide'traffic'calming'and'measures'such'as'‘Home'Zones’'are'introduced"
• an'area%wide'cycle'network'is'developed'and'promoted'and'"
• urban'regeneration'initiatives'are'used'to'promote'walking'and'cycling'in'existing'
local,'town'and'village'centres'"
(Para."7.47,"page"124"–"our"highlighting)"
'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<examining"the"
Stalybridge"–"Guide"Bridge"–"Stockport"line"for"a"re<instatement"of"passenger"services,"
the"possibility"of"light"rail"should"also"be"considered"on"this"corridor.""
(Para."7.39,"page"122)."
"
9' There"was"also"the"medium<to<long"term"suggestion"that"there"could"be"tram<trains"
helping"to"deliver"radial"services"into"Manchester"on"some"lines.""(See"heavy"rail"
section).""
"
"
HEAVY'RAIL'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
11'
In"addition,"it"was"argued"that"the"construction"of"new/re<opened"stations"between"
Stockport"and"Altrincham"would"create"a"new"orbital"rail"service"through"the"study"
area"and"the"re<introduction"of"passenger"services"between"Stalybridge,"Guide"Bridge"
and"Stockport"would"add"benefits"to"the"strategy."
"
12'
'
Medium'to'Long'Term'recommendations'were'that:'
An'‘urban'metro’'service'should'be'developed','subject'to'detailed'corridor%by%
corridor'justification,'operating'on'each'radial'line'out'from''Manchester,'and'this'
should''extend'beyond'the'boundary'to'the'natural'route'termini,'eg.'Glossop,'
Buxton,'New'Mills,'Macclesfield'and'Crewe.''It'was'considered'that,'once'the'
Manchester'Hub'has'been'addressed,'it'ought'to'be'feasible'to'provide'four'trains'
an'hour'on'each'radial'service.''Tram%trains'were'a'possible'way'of'delivering'this'
urban'metro'service,'ie.'trams'that'could'run'both'on'street'and'on'heavy'rail'lines.'
• The'western'rail'link'into'Manchester'Airport'should'receive'serious'consideration,'
ie.'a'link'from'the'Mid'Chester'Railway'Line'at'Ashley''that'passed'beneath'the'
airport'apron'into'the'Manchester'Airport'station'and'
• Consideration'should'be'given'to'providing'an'eastern'rail'link'into'the'airport'from'
the'West'Coast'Main'Line'which'crossed'the'Styal'Line'
(Paras."7.40"–"7.42,"pages"122"&"123"–"our"highlighting)."
•
"
13" SEMMMS"also"endorsed"proposals"in"the"Greater"Manchester"Local"Transport"Plan"for"new"
stations"at:"
• Dewsnap"on"the"Manchester<Glossop"line"in"Tameside"
• Adswood"in"Stockport"on"the"West"Coast"Main"Line"
• Stepping"Hill"and"Simpsons"Corner"on"the"Stockport<Buxton"Line"
• Bradshaw"Hall"on"the"Manchester<Stockport<Wilmslow"Line"and"at"
• Cheadle,"Gatley"North"and"Baguley"(providing"Metrolink"interchange"to"the"committed"
Airport"extension)"and"at"Timperley"East"on"the"Altrincham<Stockport"line"
(Para."7.43,"page"123)."
""
The"other"key"conclusion"was"that"rail<based"park"and"ride"fitted"well"with"the"strategy"and"
potential"sites"included"Simpsons"Corner"and"Bradshaw"Hall.""(Para."7.45,"page"123).""
"
BUS"
14" The"Quality"Bus"Corridor"(QBC)"service"along"the"A6"from"Manchester"to"Hazel"Grove"
(the"now"long<established"192"service)"was"already"committed"at"the"time"the"SEMMMS"
study"took"place.""However,"the"study"recommended"three"further"radial'QBCs:"
• A57"Hyde<Manchester"via"Denton"
• A34"East"Didsbury<Manchester"
• B5093/B5167"Didsbury<Manchester"via"University"Precinct"
8"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
Plus"two"orbital'QBC"corridors:"
• A627/B6104"Hyde<Stockport"
• A5145"Stockport<Urmston"via"Chorlton<cum<Hardy"
"
And"five"Stockport%focused"QBCs:"
• B6167"Reddish<Stockport"
• Brinnington<Stockport"
• A626"Marple<Stockport"
• Cheadle"Hulme<Stockport"and"
• A560"Cheadle<Stockport"
(Para."7.23,"Page"112)"
"
It"should"be"noted"that,"although"SEMMMS"covered"North"East"Cheshire"and"the"western"
part"of"the"Peak"District"National"Park,"the"key"bus"recommendations"were"confined"to"
the"Greater"Manchester"area.""No"QBCs"were"envisaged"to"run"beyond"its"boundaries.""
The"bus"service"improvements"were"illustrated"in"fig"7.3"on"page"117"of"the"final"report:"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
"
N.B."Road"numbers"have"been"added"to"the"original"diagram"to"provide"some"clarity""
9"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
'
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<use"policy"and"
• urban"regeneration"
"
17' ‘Behavioural'Change’'included"the"promotion"of"walking,"cycling"and"public"transport"
facilities,"the"widespread"introduction"of"travel"plans"and"safe"routes"to"school"and,"
according"to"the"SEMMMS"final"report,"it"“potentially"can"result"in"net"study"area"wide"
benefits"greater"than"all"the"infrastructure"measures"combined”."The"recommendations"
under"this"heading"were"described"as"“central"to"the"strategy”.""(Paras."7.56"–"7.61,"
pages"128"&"129"–"our"highlighting)."
"
The"report"makes"several"references"to"the"need"to"improve"cycling"and"pedestrian"
facilities"in"residential"areas,"as"well"as"the"need"to"re<allocate"road"space"to"pedestrians"
and"cyclists,"but,"in"the"main,"is"non<specific"–"although"a"‘study"area"cycle"network’"is"a"
specific"proposal."
"
18'
There"were"stern"warnings/"directions"under"the"heading"‘Land'Use'Policy’"that:"
“The"transport"strategy"must"be"accompanied"by"appropriate"land?use"policies"that"
support"the"promotion"of"more"sustainable"travel"patterns”"(our"highlighting"and"
underlining)""
"
10"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<under<Lyne."""(Paras."7.67"to"7.70,"pages"130"&"131)."
"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Macclesfield"road"was"built,"it"should"be"single"carriageway"and"on"or"close"to"line."
√"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<building"has"been"given"prominence"in"terms"of"officer"time,"lobbying"
and"funding."""This"is"most"regrettable"in"view"of"the"acknowledged"success"of"
Metrolink"in"getting"cars"off"roads"and"achieving"significant"modal"shift.""If"
Stockport"MBC"had"made"light"rail"to"Stockport"from"East"Didsbury"a"priority,"
it"would"already"be"in"line"to"receive"Transport"for"Greater"Manchester"funds.""
"
It"is"also"worth"drawing"attention"to"the"fact"that"the'A6%Manchester'Airport'
Relief'Road'scheme'does'not'include'making'use'of'any'of'the'highway'
space'along'it'for'light'rail.""Whilst"neither"NW"TAR"nor"CfBT"believe"the"plan"
to"build"this"road"would"be"the"right"transport"intervention"or"the"right"move"
in"terms"of"long"term"impacts"on"communities,"Green"Belt"or"climate"change,"
we"would"argue"that,"if"it"is"built,"it"should"incorporate"a"Metrolink"route.""
×'
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<trains"has"been"slow"to"
take"off"in"the"U.K.""This"is"most"unfortunate"as"they"have"been"shown"to"be"a"
boon"where"they"have"been"introduced.""A"very"fine"example"is"in"Karlsruhe"in"
Germany.""Only'now'in'mid'2013'has'Stockport'prioritised'tram%trains'to'the'
airport,'Marple'and'Hazel'Grove'but'that'is'for'post'2019'and'the'DfT'has'
given'the'go%ahead'for'a'pilot'tram%train'project'in'South'Yorkshire."
"
In"the"particular"recommendation"that"appeared"in"the"SEMMMS"final"report,"
Stalybridge"was"one"of"the"places"which"would"have"benefitted"from"a"tram"
train.""NW"TAR"and"CfBT"would"very"much"support"either"a"mixed"track"
proposition"or"a"specific"light"rail"one"that"would"benefit"Stalybridge.""It"is"a"
depressed"town"on"the"periphery"of"Greater"Manchester"and"is"in"desperate"
need"of"a"shot<in<the<arm"to"regenerate"its"prospects."""NW"TAR"have"made"
the"case"in"previous"submissions"that"the"Metrolink"extension"to"Ashton<
under<Lyne"(now"open"as"far"as"Droylsden"and"due"to"reach"Ashton"in"2015)"
should"be"taken"on"to"Stalybridge.""""""
13"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
×"
×'
×'
""""No'new'stations'have'opened'between'Stockport'and'Altrincham'although"
11
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<looking"strategies"or"publications"although"it"is"
understood"that"tentative"plans"were"drawn"up"at"one"time"for"the"western"
link.""""
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<Manchester"via"University"
precinct)"as"a"result"of"a"recent"initiative"<"the"Cross"Bus"scheme"<"which"
entails"making"part"of"Oxford"Road"bus,"cycle"and"pedestrian"only."
"
The"SEMMMS"final"report"envisaged"that,"in"addition"to"more"widespread"
frequency"and"improvements"generically"across"the"South"East"Manchester"
and"North"East"Cheshire"area,"a"network"of"Quality"Bus"Corridors"(see"
illustration"on"page"9"of"this"report)"which"comprised"a"number"of"facets:"
• Services"at"least"every"10"minutes"
• Greater"priority"for"buses"
• Modern"easy<to<access"vehicles"
• More"and"better"quality"information"and"
• Improvements"to"shelters,"bus"stations"and"major"interchanges"
"
None"of"the"QBCs"identified"have"reaped"all,"or"nearly"all,"of"these"benefits."
"
15"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
?'
×'
15'
Similarly,'no'new'quality'bus'corridors'have'opened'up'to'the'airport.""
There"is"a"limited<stop"199"service"which"runs"every"half"an"hour"for"the"bulk"
of"the"day"from"Buxton"to"the"airport"via"Stockport"<"a"slightly"convoluted"
journey"for"those"doing"terminus"to"terminus"but"a"good"through"service"(only"
20"minutes)"from"Stockport"town"centre.""It"is"unclear"when"the"Stockport"–
Manchester"Airport"non<stop"service"began"or"whether"it"had"any"connection"
with"SEMMMS"but"it"is"a"good"extant"service"that"should"be"better"promoted.""
"
There"is"an"hourly"bus"service"(the"no."200)"from"Wilmslow"in"North"East"
Cheshire"to"Manchester"Airport"which"calls"in"the"National"Trust"property,"
Quarry"Bank"Mill,"at"Styal"on"route,"but"it"is"not"a"QBC.""The"timing"is"odd"in"
that"it"runs"at"virtually"the"same"time"as"the"hourly"train"service"from"
Wilmslow"to"the"airport"(which"comes"from"Crewe).""Bearing"in"mind"the"fact"
that"the"bus"runs"from"Wilmslow"railway"station"and"is"slower"than"the"train,"
it"seems"to"be"rather"anachronistic"and"its"main"purpose"would"appear"to"be"
delivering"public"transport"users"to"the"tourist"destinations"of"Quarry"Bank"
Mill"or"the"airport"viewing"area.""(It"might"be"more"logical"if"the"bus"service"
was"at"least"staggered"by"30"minutes"from"the"train"service).""""
"
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<the<board"step"change"and"in"Cheshire"East"and"the"Peak"
District"there"has"been"even"less"improvement"and"recent"reductions"in"
sponsored"services.""
'
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<ordinators"and"to"dedicate"
officer"time"to"‘safe"routes"to"school’.""This"was"encapsulated"in"many"Local"
Transport"Plans.""Sadly,"once"the"governmental"funding"ceased,"so"did"many"
of"the"initiatives."""This"scenario"was"common"to"most"parts"of"the"country.""
That"said,"the"initiatives"did"raise"awareness"in"the"business"community,"
amongst"the"educational"establishment"and"in"the"general"public."""
"
Specifically,'however,'progress'on'local'authority%wide'cycling'and'walking'
strategies'on'South'East'Manchester'and'North'East'Cheshire'has'been'
nothing'short'of'appalling'and'there'has'never'been'a'‘study'area'cycle'
network’'that'has'evolved'to'cover'the'wider'area'of'the'SEMMMS'roads."
"
16"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<effective"way"of"tackling"both"traffic"and"health"problems.""There"is"
a"great"deal"still"to"be"done"on"active"travel,"particularly"in"the"areas"through"
which"the"SEMMMS"roads"would"run,"and"it"is"unhelpful"that"Local"Authorities"
consistently"send"out"mixed"messages"by,"on"the"one"hand,"talking"about"
sustainable"transport"but,"on"the"other,""promoting"road"building."
"
×"
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<Manchester"Airport"Link"Road."""
Stockport"MBC"have"drawn"up"a"Supplementary"Planning"Document"for"a"
‘Woodford"Garden"Village’"that"allows"up"to"850"houses"to"be"built"on"the"old"
BAe"site."Cheshire"East"Council"are"promoting"a"new"settlement"at"Handforth."
"
The"possible"construction"of"the"A6<Manchester"Airport"Road"is"being"used"as"
a"potential"selling"point"for"the"Woodford"Garden"Village"and"Cheshire"East"
Council"are"specifically"promoting"a"new"potential"village"of"Handforth"East"in"
the"Development"Options"of"their"emerging"Local"Plan,"alongside"the"A555.""
This"would"accommodate"1,800"houses"by"2030"and"more"thereafter.""
However,'both'sites'are'in'Green'Belt,'(both'would'enable'urban'sprawl'into'
Cheshire),'and'the'traffic'they'would'generate'does'not'appear'to'have'
been'included'in'the'traffic'modelling'for'the'A6%Manchester'Airport'Road."
"
17"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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"
FREIGHT'
√"
"
"
20'
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<graded"town"centre"in"Altrincham"has"also"been"failing"and"
many"commercial"premises"throughout"the"SEMMMS"area"remain"vacant.""
""
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"
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NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<modal"study"which"had"potential"for"very"
wide"benefits"has"not"even"been"taken"forward"to"the"feasibility"testing"stage.""
The"MIDMAN"consultants"(who"examined"the"M6"and"A556"corridors)"tabled""
the"establishment"of"a"parkway"station"on"the"Mid"Cheshire"rail"line"near"to"
where"it"crosses"the"M6"where"travellers"from"north"and"south"could"park"up"
and"mount"an"improved"heavy"rail"service"into"Manchester.""The"consultants"
also"put"forward"the"proposition"that"the"Metrolink"could"be"extended"out"to"
the"same"place,"making"dual"use"of"the"rail"track"between"there"and"
Altrincham.""The"MIDMAN"steering"group"endorsed"these"suggestions."
"
Manchester"Airport"has"had"a"third"platform"added"to"its"rail"station"and"is"set"
to"receive"the"Metrolink.""Additionally,"it"should"benefit"from"a"fourth"heavy"
rail"platform"through"the"Northern"Hub"initiative.""Also,"the"Metrolink"is"soon"
to"be"delivered"to"Ashton<under<Lyne.""But,"on"the"downside,"there"have"been"
unfortunate"decisions"in"other"places"within"the"SEMMMS"area.""For"instance"
in"Macclesfield,"at"the"time"the"SEMMMS"final"study"was"published,"the"bus"
station"was"opposite"the"rail"station"but"it"was"sold"off"and"an"inferior"bus"
interchange"was"established"further"away."""
"
No"new"multi<modal"interchanges"have"been"established"in"Cheshire"East"or"
in"the"Peak"District"National"Park"and"funding"has"been"cut"all"round"for"
subsidised"bus"services."""""
"
"
INTEGRATION'
'
?'
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"
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NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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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"
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NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
'
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<stop"bus"service"that"
currently"runs"from"Stockport"to"the"airport"at"regular"intervals"throughout"most"days."
"
This"situation"would"appear"to"give"a"lie"to"the"claim"by"the"SEMMMS"team"that"the"A6<
Manchester"Airport"Road"is"part"of"the"“final"piece"in"the"SEMMMS"jigsaw”.""The"fact"is"that""
the'only'serious'dip'into'the'SEMMMS'toy'box'in'12'years'is'the'road'building'element.'
"
It"is"a"very,"very"poor"reflection"on"the"three"principal"authorities"and"on"Transport"for"
Greater"Manchester"that"the"vast"majority"of"the"SEMMMS"recommendations"cannot"even"
be"placed"in"the"category"of"‘being"progressed’."""Serious"bells"ought"to"be"ringing"about"this"
parlous"state"of"affairs"–"especially"when"rail"forecasts"and"the"viability"of"rail"schemes"has"
changed"dramatically"since"2001."""
"
What"justification"can"there"be"for"the"road<building"aspects"of"the"SEMMMS"multi<modal"
study"being"progressed"–"especially"when"the"strategic"case"for"the"roads"is"based"on"out<of<
date"traffic"growth"predictions"<"and"yet"everything"else"is"virtually"abandoned"to"its"fate?"""
The"entire"premise"of"the"multi<modal"studies"was"that"packages"of"interventions"were"
worked"up,"to"be"taken"forward"as"entities.""Or,"ideally,"for"the"non"road<building"measures"
to"be"delivered"first"and"then"an"assessment"made"as"to"whether"or"not"road"building"–"with"
all"its"environmental"consequences"–"was"still"considered"necessary."""Government"policy"
was,"(and"officially"still"is"<"according"to"the"DfT’s"transport"appraisal"system,"WebTAG),"that"
providing"new"highway"infrastructure"should"be"viewed"as"a"last"resort."
"
'
'
21"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<modal"studies"of"which"the"South"East"Manchester"Multi<Modal"Study"was"one"
were"set"up"following"the"publication"of"the"Integrated"Transport"White"Paper"and"its"sister"
documents"in"1998."""
"
While"promoting"alternatives"to"road"building"and"introducing"NATA"<"the"New"Approach"to"
Appraisal"<"these"policy<directing"documents"failed"to"set"up"a"strong,"statutory"body"
(equivalent"to"the"Highways"Agency)"which"would"champion"and"deliver"big"public"transport"
interventions"and"failed"to"tackle"the"reliance"of"COBA"<"Cost"And"Benefit"Analysis"<"on"(often"
tiny)"time"savings"that"disproportionately"sway"the"economic"case"for"new"roads"in"favour"of"
building"them."""Whilst"NATA"requires"that"some"consideration"is"given"to"environmental"
issues,"the"assessment"of"them"has"been"left"open"to"interpretation.""Meanwhile"COBA"has"
remained"an"easily"quantifiable"entity"which"works"on"the"assumption"that"all"time"‘saved’"
by"everyone"has"a"business"value"and"will"be"used"productively"and"that"time"saving"will"
remain"and"not"be"eroded."""This"clearly"inequitable"and"illogical"state"of"affairs"has"been"
challenged"consistently"by"transport"experts"but"has"yet"to"be"remedied."""
"
Similarly,"NW"TAR"and"CfBT"would"argue"that"the"methods"and"assumptions"that"go"towards"
the"National"Transport"Model"(NTM)"which"underlies"the"Department"for"Transport’s"road"
traffic"forecasts"need"to"be"revised"in"the"light"of"clear"evidence"that"national"traffic"
forecasts"for"the"UK"have"consistently"over<estimated"traffic"growth."
"
Based"on"the"NTM,"the"traffic"models"used"by"the"multi<modal"studies"all"assumed"that"
there"would"be"exponential"traffic"growth"and"therefore,"although"they"all"came"forward"
with"packages"of"recommendations"that"included"public"transport"interventions"and"had"
much"to"say"about"walking,"cycling"and"‘soft"measures’"or"‘smart"choices’,"they"all"
recommended"road"building.""In"the"event,"all"the"traffic"growth"predictions"in"all"the"multi<
modal"studies"have"been"shown"to"be"wrong"and"the"trend"for"little"or"no"traffic"growth"in"
the"period"since"the"multi<modal"studies"reported"looks"set"to"continue.""Yet"many"of"the"
road"schemes"recommended"in"them"have"been"and"are"still"being"pursued"by"either"the"
Highways"Agency"or"local"highway"authorities.""The"SEMMMS"schemes"are"a"case"in"point."
"
The"Department"for"Transport"has"confirmed"it"is"working"on"traffic"forecasts"and"has"been"
promising"to"consult"on"a"new"roads"strategy"for"some"time"but"this"has"yet"to"materialise."
"
22"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
A"further"matter"which"unduly"affected"all"the"multi<modal"studies"was"the"timing"of"the"
demise"of"Railtrack"PLC,"which"went"bankrupt"in"2001"and"was"replaced"for"a"brief"duration"
by"the"Strategic"Rail"Authority"(SRA)."""Railtrack"was"already"faltering"when"the"multi<modal"
studies"started"up"and"its"successor,"the"SRA,"was"still"in"a"gestation"period"towards"the"end"
of"them.""The"result"was"that"there"was"very"little"strategic"rail"input"to"the"studies"and"no"
cohesive"plans"for"rail"travel"were"threaded"through"them."""
"
Another"major"shortfall"was"the"lack"of"any"obligation"to"establish"bus"quality"partnerships"
and"quality"contracts.""Whilst"a"statutory"basis"for"these"was"created"by"the"2000"Transport"
Act,"neither"Local"Authorities"nor"bus"service"providers"were"required"by"law"to"bring"them"
into"being.""The"result,"therefore,"is"that"very"few"have"been"initiated."
"
NATIONAL'STUDIES/POLICY'DIRECTIONS/LEGAL'OBLIGATIONS'SINCE'2001'SEMMMS'REPORT'
"
Eddington'and'Stern'
"
After"all"the"multi<modal"studies"had"been"completed,"Sir"Rod"Eddington"was"commissioned"
to"examine"the"long"term"links"between"transport,"economic"productivity","growth"and"
stability"within"the"government’s"commitment"to"sustainable"development.""The"Eddington"
Study,"‘Transport’s"role"in"sustaining"the"UK’s"productivity"and"competitiveness’,"was"
published"in"December"2006.""In"it"he"pointed"out"that"the"UK"already"had"a"greater"
proportion"of"its"population"connected"to"the"strategic"road"and"rail"networks"than"its"
European"competitors.""However,"based"on"the"same"flawed"traffic"growth"models"that"the"
multi<modal"studies"relied"upon,"he"predicted"that"transport"demands"would"continue"to"
rise"and"would"bring"congestion"that"would"impact"on"the"economy.""He"considered"that"it"
would"be"necessary"for"the"Government"to"continue"to"deliver"sustained,"although"targeted,"
investment"in"transport"but"–"significantly"–"he"concluded:""“Because"the"UK"is"already"well"
connected,"the"key"economic"challenge"is"therefore"to"improve"the"performance"of"the"
existing"network”"and"“There"are"very"high"returns"from"making"best"use"existing"networks”"
(Bullets"9"&"11,"Key"findings"and"recommendations).""He"also"advised"that:""“smaller"projects"
which"unblock"pinch"points,"variable"infrastructure"schemes"to"support"public"transport"in"
urban"areas"and"international"gateway"surface"access"projects"[specifically"ports]"are"likely"
to"offer"the"very"highest"returns”"(Bullet"12,"Key"findings"&"recommendations)."""
"
Sir"Rod"said"that,"whilst"the"main"challenge"was"to"improve"the"existing"transport"network,"
there"would"need"to"be"investment"in"targeted"new"infrastructure"investment."""But,"mindful"
of"the"study"Sir"Nicholas"Stern"was"conducting"at"that"time,"he"advised:"“the"transport"sector"
also"needs"to"play"its"role"in"economy5wide"reductions"in"greenhouse"gas"emissions”.""He"was"
adamant:"“Transport"policy"has"no"choice"but"to"respond"to"the"challenge"of"climate"change”.""
"
23"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<based"transport"appraisal"guidance)"eschews:"
“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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
“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<modal,"long<term"planning"process"could"work."
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20071104143502/http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/
strategy/transportstrategy/pdfsustaintranssytem.pdf"
'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<transport"users,"and"to"
promote"a"healthy'natural'environment."
"
(Para."1.5,"page12"–"our"highlighting)"
"
While"it"is"recognised"that"there"may"be"tensions"between"the"goals,"it"is"nevertheless""
expected"that"there"will"also"be"synergies"and"that"it"is"necessary"to"deliver"all"five."
"
"In"particular,"regarding"climate"change,"it"states:"
26"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
“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"CO2)"is"clear…"we"shall"be"looking"to"maximise"
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<building,"stating:""
"
“Making"the"most"of"the"opportunities"for"reducing"emissions"from"city"and"regional"
and"national"networks"will"also"be"important."For"example,"a"package"of"measures"
for"an"urban"area"may"involve"public"transport"investment,"demand"management,"
promotion"of"smarter"travel"choices"and"the"use"of"land"use"planning"to"reduce"the"
need"to"travel."Substantial"work"will"be"needed"to"inform"consideration"of"the"best"
package"of"measures"for"each"network,"including"the"impact"of"greenhouse"gas"
emissions”""
(Para."2.6)."
"
And"that""
"
“innovative"measures"to"manage"demand"are"likely"to"play"an"important"role"in"
improving"journey"reliability"in"our"most"congested"cities"and"road"corridors”""
(Para"4.4)"
"
http://collections.europarchive.org/tna/20100415103304/http://dft.gov.uk/about/st
rategy/transportstrategy/dasts/dastsreport/pdf""
"
'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
"
The"strategy"also"launched"initiatives"to"support"the"transfer"of"freight"to"rail"and"water"and"
to"track"carbon"emissions"from"road<hauled"freight."""
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<documents.gov.uk/documents/cm76/7682/7682.pdf"
"
Creating'Growth,'Cutting'Carbon'–"DfT"White"Paper"–"January"2011"
‘Creating"Growth,"Cutting"Carbon:"Making"sustainable"local"transport"happen’"is"very"much"a"
follow<on"to"the"‘Low"Carbon"Transport,"A"Greener"Future’"document,"although"that"was"a"
product"of"the"last"(Labour)"government"and"this"is"by"the"present"(Coalition)"government.""
In"the"same"vein,"it"makes"much"of"vehicle"technology"improvements.""But"it"also"repeats"
many"of"the"same"messages"about"the"need"to"reduce"carbon"emissions"and"promote"
sustainable"travel.""Transport"Minister"Norman"Baker,"MP,"repeats"in"the"Foreword"the"point"
about"the"number"of"trips"that"are"less"than"five"miles"in"length"and"how"they"“could"be"
easily"cycled,"walked"or"undertaken"by"public"transport”.""And"he"re<iterates"the"point"that"
“Sustainable"transport"can"also"influence"the"quality"of"our"lives,"the"air"we"breathe,"how"
healthy"and"fit"we"are"…"as"well"as"the"pleasantness"of"our"environment"and"public"spaces”""
"(Page"5)."
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
""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<sustainable<local<transport<
happen/making<sustainable<local<transport<happen<whitepaper.pdf"
'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
The"White"Paper"emphasised"and"re<emphasised"the"relationship"between"people’s"
wellbeing"and"nature"and"the"value"of"nature"to"the"economy"and"society.""It"said:"
“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<documents.gov.uk/document/cm80/808082/8082.pdf)""
"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
"
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<making"processes.""This"is"
because"the"National"Ecosystem"Assessment"showed"that"nature"is"consistently"undervalued"
in"decision<making"(over"40%"of"priority"habitats"and"30%"of"priority"species"were"declining"
in"the"most"recent"analysis)."However,"according"to"evidence"presented"on"behalf"of"TSLM"
(unique"ref."no."10015381)"the"approach"to"biodiversity"is"respect"of"the"HM6L"road"has"not"
been"adequate.""Their"submissions"show"that"the"road"would"have"major"negative"impacts"
on"some"of"the"most"vulnerable"(protected)"species."""
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<biodiversity<strategy<2020<111111.pdf"
"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Transport<Infrastructure<
fullreport%20July2006.pdf)."In"addition"to"airborne"pollutants"from"traffic,"there"would"be"
increased"noise"and"light"pollution"and"odour.""All"of"these"factors"combined"would"lead"to"a"
reduction"in"the"quality"of"life"for"those"living"in"the"area.""There"would"also"be"significant"
impacts"on"wildlife"
"
The"NPPF"identifies"a"key"contributor"to"the"‘economic"role’"as"having"“sufficient"land"of"the"
right"type".."available"in"the"right"places”.""We"believe"the"land"that"has"been"identified"is"not"
the"right"type"and"not"in"the"right"place.""
"
Meanwhile,"an"important"requirement"for"the"‘social"role’"is"to"“support"[the]"health”"of"the"
community.""Here"we"would"question"how"providing"infrastructure"which"would"increase"
greenhouse"gas"emissions"would"be"supportive"to"health.""And"it"is"highly"questionable"
whether"the"project"would"meet"any"one"of"the"factors"which"make"up"the"‘environmental"
role’.""These"are:"""
33"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
“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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"runs"
contrary"to"all"these"stipulations.""And"this"is"in"addition"to"it"running"contrary"to"the"
provisions"of"the"Climate"Change"Act"as"we"stated"in"out"‘Contrary"Case’"document"of"
January"2013."
'
'
'
'
34"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<hub/)"""
"
They"also"state:"
"
“The"North’s"city"region"economies"are"forecast"to"continue"to"grow""…"This"will"result"
in"even"more"people"choosing"rail"as"the"quickest,"most"environmentally"friendly"and"
easiest"way"to"travel”""
"
and"
"
“Fast"and"reliable"links"between"the"North’s"city"regions"are"essential"to"support"
growth"of"jobs"and"businesses.""Growth"in"rail"into"the"North’s"city"centres"will"
support"their"sustainable"growth”"
"
and"""
"
“We"want"to"…"[enable]"train"operators"to"provide"faster,"more"frequent"and"more"
reliable"train"services"than"ever"before,"right"the"way"across"the"North”."
"
(Executive"Summary,"Manchester"Hub"Rail"Study,"Network"Rail)""
"
35"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<le<Willows"is"well"
underway,"connecting"Manchester"and"the"West"Coast"Main"Line,"and"is"due"to"be"
completed"by"the"end"of"2013.""This"will"provide"for"direct"electric"train"services"from"
Manchester"and"Manchester"Airport"to"Lancashire,"Cumbria"and"Scotland.""Work"is"now"
progressing"westwards"from"Newton<le<Willows"to"Liverpool"and"Huyton"and"Wigan."
"
A"fully"electrified"route"between"Preston"and"Blackpool"will"connect"the"area"to"the"West"
Coast"Main"Line"by"May"2016"and"the"planning"of"the"electrification"of"the"Manchester"to"
Preston"lines"is"well"underway."
"
This"is"in"addition"to"Trans"Pennine"electrification"from"Manchester"Victoria"and"from"Guide"
Bridge"to"Leeds."
"
All"these"improvements"are"guaranteed"to"make"rail"travel"in"and"around"the"North"and"
beyond"much"more"attractive"to"travellers,"particularly"business"travellers"who"are"able"to"
work"on"trains."
"
Rail'Devolution/'Re%Franchising'
'
Transport"for"Greater"Manchester"(TfGM)"have"combined"with"Metro"in"West"Yorkshire"and"
the"South"Yorkshire"Passenger"Transport"Executive"and"have"put"forward"a"proposition"to"
government"that"they"take"over"the"combined"franchises"of"Northern"Rail"and"Trans"Pennine"
Express.""The"Northern"franchise"is"due"to"expire"on"March"31st"2014"and"Trans"Pennine’s"
franchise"could"be"terminated"at"the"same"time.""The"bidding"consortium"is"working"on"a"
North"of"England"Rail"Strategy"which"builds"on"the"Northern"Hub"and"the"electrification"
programme"and"includes"further"capacity"improvements,"new"and"refurbished"rolling"stock,"
multi<modal"smart"ticketing"station"improvements"and"likely"tram<train"implementation."""
"
At"the"same"time"a"study"is"underway"into"a"Mid"Cheshire"Railway"Line"up<grade.""Passenger"
numbers"on"the"Mid"Cheshire"Line"that"runs"from"Manchester"via"Stockport"to"Chester"
increased"by"66%"between"1998"and"2010.""The"study,"funded"jointly"by"TfGM,"Cheshire"
West"and"Chester"and"Cheshire"East"Councils"is"looking"at"journey"times,"timetable"
improvements,"stations"and"infrastructure."""
"
There"is"a"new<found"emphasis"on"rail"and,"even"more"importantly,"commitments"to"fund"
major"improvements."""""
37"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<point"programme."""
"
Managed'Motorways'
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
Action'for'Roads:''A'Network'for'the'21st'Century'
"
As"the"second"consultation"period"for"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Road"(A6<MARR)"
was"closing,"the"Department"for"Transport"published"a"command"paper:""‘Action"for"Roads:""
A"Network"for"the"21st"Century’.""""
"
To"environmental"non<governmental"organisations"(NGOs)"such"as"the"North"West"Transport"
Roundtable"and"the"Campaign"for"Better"Transport,"this"document"represents"a"backwards"
step"away"from"achieving"modal"shift"with"its"emphasis"on"road<building"and"assumptions"
that"improvements"in"vehicle"technology"will"come"through"fast"enough"and"be"sufficiently"
widespread"to"deal"with"greenhouse"gas"emissions"and"climate"change"impacts.""(Not"to"
mention"the"loss"of"agricultural"land,"impacts"on"water"tables,""landscapes","ecology"and"
populations"and"the"enormous"volume"of"minerals"and"aggregates"that"would"be"required"–"
with"all"the"impacts"that"quarrying"and"transporting"them"would"have)."""However,"it"does"
have"a"potential"significant"effect"on"plans"to"build"the"A6<MARR"and"the"other"SEMMMS"
roads.""These"are"the"Woodford<Poynton"Relief"Road"which"represents"a"melding"together"of"
two"former"schemes"–"the"A523"Poynton"Bypass"and"the"A523"Poynton"to"Macclesfield"
Improvement"–"and"the"A6"Stockport"North<South"Bypass"along"with"the"Stepping"Hill"Link."
"
‘Action"for"Roads’"includes"plans"for"‘improvements’"(ie."extra"highway"capacity)"to"the"M60"
Greater"Manchester"orbital"motorway,"the"M62"trans<Pennine"motorway"and"the"M56.""The"
government"expresses"its"determination"to"deliver"these"in"the"paper.""This"being"the"case,"
then"the"need"to"re<model"all"the"SEMMMS"schemes"becomes"an"absolute"imperative."The"
government"has"specifically"indicated"in"that"paper"that"it"wants"as"much"traffic"as"possible"
to"concentrate"its"journeys"on"the"strategic"road"network"of"which"the"A6<MARR"is"not"a"
part.""(Nor"are"the"other"SEMMMS"roads;"they"are"all"local"authority"promoted"schemes)."""
"
Following"through"this"argument,"trans<Pennine"traffic"heading"for"Manchester"Airport"
ought"to"use/"would"be"more"tempted"to"use"the"M62,"the"M60"and"the"M56"and"traffic"
from"Stockport"or"Greater"Manchester"should"also"use"the"M60"and"the"M56.""This"would"
free"up"space"on"the"local"roads"that"traffic"from"North"East"Cheshire"tends"to"use"to"access"
the"airport.""All"of"this"needs"to"be"properly"modelled."""
"
The'publication'of'the'government’s'command'document'‘Action'for'Roads’'has'merely'
bolstered'the'already'very'strong'case'that'existed'for'the'SEMMMS'A6%MARR'to'be're%
modelled'–'along'with'the'Woodford%Poynton'Relief'Road'and'the'A6'Stockport'North%
South'Bypass'that'would'interconnected'with'it.'''Any'previous'modelling'that'exists'will'
have'been'carried'out'on'the'assumption'that'the'capacity'of'the'motorway'network'
around'Greater'Manchester'remained'fairly'static.''This'is'no'longer'going'to'be'the'case.""
"
"
39"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
CONCLUSIONS'DRAWN'FROM'THE'PRECEDING'ANALYSIS'
The"traffic"growth"predictions"used"in"the"South"East"Manchester"Multi"Modal"Study"(and"in"
the"other"multi<modal"studies)"were"spectacularly"wrong,"yet"the"three"local"authorities"
promoting"the"SEMMMS"roads"are"not"recognising"this"fact"and"they"have"not"been"
prioritising"the"other"study"recommendations"as"advised."""They"have"not"followed"the"DfT’s"
transport"appraisal"system,"WebTAG,"and"have"not"taken"account"of"planned"improvements"
to"existing"trunk"roads.""A"totally"bespoke"traffic"model"has"not"been"set"up"for"SEMMMS;"an"
existing"one"radiating"outwards"from"central"Manchester"was"utilised"and"has"been"added"
to.""It"does"not"adequately"address"issues"in"Cheshire"East"and"in"the"Peak"District"and"it"does"
not"recognise"that"current"trunk"road"initiatives"will"allow"more"traffic"to"get"to"and"from"the"
airport"on"existing"motorways"without"impacting"on"new"communities"and"green"fields."
"
In"the"12"years"that"have"elapsed"since"the"SEMMMS"final"report"was"published"there"have"
been"no"really"well<developed"plans"to"enact"the"non<road"building"recommendations"that"
emerged"from"the"study"–"not"the"heavy"or"light"rail"ones"or"the"bus"ones"(to"the"requisite"
level)"or"the"active"travel"ones.""Work"on"behavioural"change"and"interchanges"has"been"
spasmodic"and"smartcards"have"still"not"been"introduced"across"rail,"Metrolink"and"buses.""
The"report"said"that"all"the"key"recommendations"should"be"taken"forward"as"a"package.""
Only"very"recently"has"funding"been"found"for"some"significant"heavy"rail"improvements,"
including"the"Northern"Hub,"and"there"has"been"major"growth"in"the"light"rail"network"
(although"not"that"recommended"in"the"SEMMMS"report).""But"these"developments"have"
not"been"factored"into"calculations"and"are"not"being"allowed"to"affect"the"determination"to"
build"the"SEMMMS"roads"when"the"logical"approach"would"be"to"observe"what"impact"these"
and"other"initiatives"such"as"a"major"push"to"increase"cycling"could"have"if"implemented"first."
"
There"are"no"plans"to"re<assign"road"space"and"‘lock"in’"benefits"despite"this"being"a"‘sine"qua"
non’"of"the"SEMMMS"report"and"despite"warnings"in"the"report"that"this"means"the"strategy"
will"fail.""And"the"regeneration"of"local"centres"has"not"been"given"due"policy"weight/backing."""
Neither"the"A6<Manchester"Airport"Road"specifically,"nor"the"SEMMMS"network"of"roads"as"
an"entity,"have"been"re<assessed"in"the"light"of"most"of"the"legislation,"White"Papers,"
government"initiatives"or"other"major"developments"and"reports"that"have"emerged"since"
2001.""They"do"not"comply"with"the"NPPF,"the"Climate"Change"Act"or"the"government’s"or"
the"local"authorities’"commitments"to"reduce"carbon.""Impacts"on"landscapes,"Green"Belt"
and"communities"are"being"down<played.""Advice"given"by"the"Regional"Spatial"Strategy"
panel"not"to"allow"the"airport"to"become"a"commercial"hub"in"its"own"right"is"being"ignored.""
There"could"well"be"deleterious"consequences"on"the"city"centre"and"places"such"as"
Stockport"and"Macclesfield"of"basing"an"Enterprise"Zone"at"the"airport.""The"main"argument"
for"the"positioning"it"there"is"the"need"to"tackle"deprivation"in"Wythenshawe.""If"this"is"the"
case,"then"local"initiatives"such"as"re<opening"Baguley"railway"station,"improving"bus"services"
and"up<skilling"the"workforce"would"be"the"answer.""Not"building"a"new"strategic"road"that"
will"facilitate"and"encourage"car"commuting"to"the"EZ."
40"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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"
4
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<ahead"and"the"fourth"platform"at"
Manchester"Airport"which"is"has"been"brought"forward"to"a"start"construction"date"of"next"
year"(2014)"in"order"that"it"can"be"built"at"the"same"time"at"Metrolink."
"
Items"2"&"3"above"should"be"undertaken"in"a"manner"acceptable"to"both"sides."
5"
The"response"from"the"SEMMMS"team"to"NW"TAR"and"CfBT"dated"4th"July"constantly"moves"
between"using"SEMMMS"as"the"option"development"and"consultation"stage,"and"justifying"this"by"
saying"the"road"scheme"is"part"of"a"package.""Unfortunately"most"of"the"sustainable"transport"
elements"are"missing,"and"the"report"stresses"the"need"to"implement"all"of"SEMMMS"or"review"it.""
42"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<MARR"as"part"of"the"strategic"road"network"but"which"does"
promise"upgrades"to"much"of"the"existing"trunk"road"network"around"Greater"Manchester"which"
would"seriously"influence"how"road"travellers"access"Manchester"Airport"–"even"motorists"from"the"
Peak"District.""The"impacts"of"this"need"to"be"included"in"the"modelling"and"forecasting."
"
43"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
17"
Other"areas,"including"the"High"Peak,"would"also"gain"new"rail"East<West"access"to"the"airport"
and"South"Western"areas"as"a"result"of"the"SEMMMS"rail"proposals.""Many"of"these"travellers"would"
be"by"car,"and"use"the"M60.""This"has"not"been"taken"into"account."""
"
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<West"car"movement"is"the"definition"of"the"areas"which"are"
being"served.""These"are"not"shown"but"if"they"are"the"same"sectors"as"in"the"Business"Case"they"are"
too"large"to"draw"specific"conclusions.""These"should"be"made"publicly"available"as"soon"as"possible."
45"
"
NW"TAR"&"CfBT:""More"reasons"why"the"SEMMMS"A6<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
(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<Pennine"
electrification"
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<Manchester"Airport"Relief"Road"should"not"be"commissioned"
'
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'
'
'
c/o'Greater'Manchester'Transport'Resource'Unit,'
St.'Thomas'Centre,'
'
'
'
'
Ardwick'Green'North,' '
'
'
'
Manchester,'M12'6FZ.'
''
Campaign'for'Better'Transport'
16'Waterside,'
44%48'Wharf'Road,'
London,'N1'7UX.'
48"
"