HASTINGS:
NEW JOBS WITHOUT NEW ROADS
07
Jul 2001
Research
shows bypasses not needed for regeneration
Research published today by Friends of the Earth shows that
the proposed Hastings bypasses[1] are not needed for the regeneration
of the town.
The report 'New jobs without new roads: sustainable
regeneration for Hastings' [2] concludes that a sustainable
regeneration strategy for the town could create up to 2,570
jobs for local people for significantly less than the £130
million cost of the bypass. The projections are based on
regeneration success stories from around Europe. This contrasts with
the report of the Government's consultants, which concluded that the
bypasses would create jobs in nearby Bexhill, but would result in a
loss of 300 jobs in Hastings [3].
The sustainable regeneration strategy could include:
- investment in training local unemployed people
- developing community businesses
- promoting Hastings as a quality tourist location
emphasising the high quality environment around the town
- refurbishing empty homes
- improving support for local businesses providing locally
produced food; and
- increasing recycling provision to provide more jobs
Brenda Pollack, Friends of the Earth's Regional Campaigns
Co-ordinator, said:
“This report shows a positive way forward for Hastings, making
the best of its many assets and giving the town a green future. That
has to be better than wasting tens of millions of pounds on a
destructive bypass that won't solve traffic problems”.
The final decision on the bypasses rests with new Transport
Secretary Stephen Byers. A decision is expected before the start of the
Parliamentary recess which will probably be in late July. If Mr
Byers decides to approve the building of the bypasses, he faces the
prospect of a legal challenge to the decision [4].
Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's Transport Campaigner,
said:
“The last prop supporting the case for the Hastings bypasses
has been kicked away. We knew they wouldn't solve the town's traffic
problems. We knew they would be environmentally destructive. And now we
know they aren't needed to bring new jobs. Stephen Byers should decide
now to reject the bypasses so that the sustainable regeneration of
Hastings can begin as soon as possible”.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
[1] The Bexhill and Hastings Western
Bypass and the Hastings Eastern Bypass would create a new 21 km road
around Hastings and Bexhill, damaging three SSSIs _ Pevensey Levels,
which is also a Ramsar site,Combe Haven and Marline Valley Woods - and
the High Weald AONB. The aim of the new roads would be to regenerate
Hastings, but a study by consultants for the Government concluded that
there were major doubts whether this would be achieved. The new roads
would cost around £130 million. The South East England Regional
Assembly voted on February 14th to recommend building the bypasses. The
final decision lies with the Secretary of State.
[2] 'New jobs without new roads: sustainable
regeneration in Hastings' was written by Emma Cranidge of CAG
Consultants. CAG Consultants seek to be at the leading edge of ethical
consultancy in our fields of environmental policy, stakeholder
involvement and urban regeneration. We work mainly for government
departments, national agencies, think tanks, regeneration partnerships
and local authorities. We work mostly in the UK but also sometimes in
Europe and beyond. CAG Consultants is a co-operative founded in 1983
that is owned and managed by its staff. The company comprises twelve
consultants and one administration and finance manager.
A one-page summary or a full copy of the report is available on request.
[3] 'Access to Hastings Multi Modal
Study' Final Report paragraph 9.36
[4] Friends of the Earth and Transport 2000
wrote to John Prescott, the then Secretary of State, in April. The
letter warned that a decision to approve the construction of the
bypasses could be unlawful because:
- The bypasses seriously conflict with Government policy of a
strong presumption against road schemes through environmentally
sensitive sites;
- The Government hasn't shown that the bypasses would achieve
their stated aim of regenerating the Hastings economy. Nor have they
demonstrated that there is no valid alternative solution;
- The 1995/96 public inquiry is not a valid basis for
proceeding, as this was based on different transport policy, a
different objective for the bypasses and a different assessment
methodology;
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