Archived press release

Government's Shabby Decision on Salisbury Bypass

29 October 1996

The road scheme was planned as part of a 'long-distance strategic route', but the other'improvements' to that route have subsequently been dropped. This leaves the bypass with no justification, as it will not solve the traffic problems of Salisbury - something the Department of Transport conceded at the Public Inquiry. [2]

The 11 miles of dual carriageway would plough through one of Britain's most famous and environmentally sensitive landscapes, which includes the view of Salisbury Cathedral as painted by John Constable, and two Sites of Special Scientific Interest [3].

Simon Festing, Transport Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

"This shabby announcement exposes the flawed decision making of the Government. There is no justification for this destructive road scheme, which will do little to ease Salisbury's congestion. Today's announcement ignores the real issue:that the bypass is not the best solution to Salisbury's traffic problems."

He continued:

"Today is also the 10th anniversary of the M25 - living proof that building roads simply leads to an increase in traffic. Department of Transport statistics, released today, show this is also the case for Salisbury. The Government should be taking more measures - such as supporting the Road Traffic Reduction Bill - to reduce traffic rather than spending huge sums of money on roads that will lead to ever more cars on our roads." [4]

NOTES TO EDITORS:

[1] The Department of Transport has today announced that there are "further studies to be undertaken on the Salisbury bypass"

[2] The DoT has already admitted at the public inquiry in 1993 that "It would be wrong to give the public the impression that the bypass will take traffic out of the city centre".

[3] The Salisbury bypass would damage:
East Harnham Meadows (a Site of Special Scientific Interest);
The River Avon Valley, which is expected to be protected under European Law as a 'Special Area for Conservation', once it has been notified as a site of special scientific interest (SSSI);
The historic view of the Cathedral, which has changed little since it was painted by John Constable.
The nationally designated West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; and
14 known archaeological sites.

[4] The Road Traffic Reduction Bill is part of a national campaign by Friends of the Earth, the Green Party and the Plaid Cymru Parliamentary Party.
If passed, the Bill would require the Secretary of State for Transport to draw up a"National Road Traffic Reduction Plan" to achieve a 5% reduction in road traffic miles by 2005, and 10% by 2010.

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