Home > Press releases > 2005 > New Tyne Crossing Decision Bad News for Environment
Jul 22 2005
Commenting on yesterday's decision by the Government to give the go-ahead for the New Tyne Crossing, a second road tunnel under the River Tyne, Friends of the Earth's Senior Transport Campaigner Tony Bosworth said:
"This is desperately bad news for the environment. The New Tyne Crossing has been given the go-ahead despite the public inquiry Inspector effectively concluding that it conflicts with national transport policy and will do little to make communities more sustainable. Once again, the environment is being sacrificed for hopes of economic growth."
The Public Inquiry Inspector concluded that "the NTC rests very uncomfortably alongside the Government's main transport objectives" (paragraph 9.16 of the Inspector's Report). This is because the NTC "would substantially increase the number of journeys taken by private car" (paragraph 8.26) and "would not reduce journey lengths, but would increase them significantly" (paragraph 8.28).
In relation to sustainable communities, the Inspector concluded that "reinforcing the A19 corridor further would be contrary to one of the main aims and objectives of Government policy. In my judgment, a linear or corridor development of this sort can only deflect from the creation of sustainable communities" (paragraph 8.95).
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