Archived press release

'MINISTERIAL BLUNDER' ON WESTLINK INQUIRY

19 September 2001

Friends of the Earth today described as a ‘ministerial blunder' Gregory Campbell's decision to press ahead with the expansion of the M1 and Westlink, arguing it would not remedy the congestion problem, and insisting that last year's public inquiry [1] into the scheme had breached the Human Rights Act.[2]

Transport Campaigner Lisa Fagan claimed that the £55 million scheme would alleviate congestion on the M1 and Westlink for only 10 or 15 years before the additional road space filled up with ‘induced traffic':

"It is absolutely ludicrous that even more public money [3] is being thrown at a scheme with such short-term benefits. Elsewhere traffic planners have rejected the outdated concept of ‘predict and provide' [4] but our civil servants cling to road building as a solution to congestion and anticipated traffic growth. Apart from anything else, we simply cannot afford to build enough road space to accommodate the enormous traffic increases which are forecast. Gregory Campbell doesn't have the £55 million this proposal will cost. His scheme is nothing more than a road-builder's fantasy."

Ms Fagan pointed out the lack of provision for public transport in the proposals.

"The minister has completely overlooked the role of improved public transport, including Park and Rail schemes, which will help combat long-term increases in road traffic."

Dr. Liz Fawcett, Northern Ireland Representative of Transport 2000 agreed that the scheme would induce additional traffic:

"The new underpasses and extra lanes will provide relief for only a few years before they become clogged with traffic. The only sane solution is to invest in public transport. A modern public transport system would tempt commuters out of their cars and alleviate ‘transport poverty' among the 30% of Northern Ireland households without access to a car".

There are also concerns about the validity of last year's public inquiry into the expansion of the M1 and Westlink, the results of which have been kept secret. Lisa Fagan of Friends of the Earth insisted that the inquiry breached the Human Rights Act:

"For example, the Department for Regional Development, whose proposal was the subject of the inquiry, appointed the inquiry inspector. In other words, those who were ‘on trial' appointed their own ‘judge'. This represents a breach of the Human Rights Act which requires that citizens are entitled to 'a fair and public hearing....by an independent and impartial tribunal' but despite these doubts, the Department pressed ahead with the inquiry and there is now the possibility that it will need to be re-run, this time conducted properly."

And she insisted the fight would continue:

"Today's ministerial green light for this ill-conceived scheme doesn't mean the road will ever be built. Mr. Campbell doesn't have all the statutory permissions he requires, nor the £55 million it will cost to build. This campaign is only beginning: there is still plenty of time to persuade decision-makers to abandon the proposal in favour of the public transport alternatives".

Notes

[1] (back) The Inquiry took place in the Spires Centre, Belfast from 6 November to 7 December 2000.

[2] (back) Article 6(1) of the European Convention on Human Rights as set out in Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998 states: "In the determination of his civil rights and obligations...everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law."

Friends of the Earth contends that the Public Inquiries referred to above do not constitute a "fair...hearing... by an independent and impartial tribunal". The inspector holding the Inquiry has been appointed by the Department of Regional Development which is itself the proposer of the scheme which is the subject of the Inquiry. The Department will thus be making a decision in its own cause.

[3] (back) The original proposed budget was £46 million

[4] (back) "... a ‘predict and provide' approach, in which road capacity is increased to match forecast traffic growth, is environmentally unsustainable, unaffordable and self-defeating." Scottish Executive Strategic Roads Review 1999

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust