[Bilstoncollective-private] Press Release- Call for a public inquiry

Positive Vibrations positivevibes at riseup.net
Tue Dec 6 18:30:00 GMT 2005


Heya-

Attached is a copy of a Dalkeith Press Release calling for a Public 
Inquiry into the road.
Legally, a call for a new public inquiry, environmental impact 
assessment and the completion of the multi-modal transport study 
probably have the best chance for stopping the road.

This means if people want to know how to support the campaign, we 
should tell them to raise this issue in as many ways possible

-  Write to MSPs asking to halt all works until Public Inquiry is 
carried out:  write to Tavish Scott (Transport Minister) but also copy 
to friendly MSP like Mark Ballard

- Write to local and national newspaper raising issue that the current 
works for the A68 Dalkeith Bypass are negligent, they are ignoring 
public interests/objections and environmental consequences of road.  It 
is not appropriate to build this wrote with main supporting 
information/background research from before 1993.  The main reason it 
looks like the Executive is pushing for the A68 bypass is because the 
delay to the M74 means there is money they must spend this year-- 
having the money to build a road is not legitimate justification for 
the need to build a road.

-  And in a crazy idea, I would suggest that we also start writing to 
the Shetland Newspapers.  Tavish Scott is MSP for Shetland, thus we can 
call on his constituency to support us in upholding public interest and 
social justice.
The Shetland Times
www.shetlandtoday.co.uk
The Shetland Times Ltd
Gremista
Lerwick
Shetland
Scotland
ZE1 0PX
email- editorial at shetland-times.co.uk


The Shetland News (online news)
www.shetland-news.co.uk
email- comment at shetland-news.co.uk 


Press Release below:
------------------------------
Anti A68 Bypass Protest, from the Trees of Dalkeith Country Park
Press Statement- For Immediate Release 6th  December 2005

Campaigners involved in the protest against the proposed construction 
of the A68 Dalkeith Bypass call for a Public Inquiry and halt of all 
works until its completion.

To carry out the works for the A68 Dalkeith Bypass prior to the 
completion of a new Public Inquiry would be criminally negligent on the 
part of the Executive and the contractors involved in this project.  
Evidence based on written questions to the Transport Minister in the 
Scottish Parliament and answers given (see S2W-18726) suggest that the 
only reason for the current pursuit of the bypass is based on the need 
to spend projects funding in this year$B!G(Bs annual budget after delays to 
the planned M74.  Does having the finances to build new roads really 
count as a justifiable reason for doing so?
Further more, the A68 Dalkeith Bypass was to be held in abeyance until 
the completion of the 2006 Multi-Modal Transport Study.  This study 
would take into account the changes that have occurred to the transport 
infrastructure since 1993 (when planning permission was granted for the 
bypass) including the building of the A7 Dalkeith bypass and the 
dualling of the A1, and also the potential reopening of the Borders 
Rail Link (the $B!F(BWaverly Line$B!G(B). The bypass was granted permission at an 
estimated cost of $B!r(B22 million; does the now estimated $B!r(B40 million 
project represent best value for taxpayers in terms of transport 
options for the area taking into account the recent changes to the 
transport infrastructure?
The environmental impacts of the A68 Dalkeith Bypass are being 
completely ignored.  The only environmental assessment carried out 
to-date on the impacts of the Dalkeith Bypass was a weak environmental 
appraisal completed in 1992 that did not even meet statutory 
regulations for environmental impact assessments at that time.
Public opinion is being completely ignored.  The last full Public 
Inquiry to consider the construction of the A68 Dalkeith Bypass was 
carried out in 1992.  Since the renewal of the A68 Dalkeith Bypass 
project this year, there have been numerous objections stated by the 
public. Over 2,500 people lodged letters of complaint to their MSPs. To 
date, 1632 people have signed a petition calling for an updated Public 
Enquiry and Environmental Impact Assessment to be carried out before 
further consideration of the proposed bypass.

Before any further works are pursued on the A68 Dalkeith Bypass, a full 
Public Inquiry, a modern Environmental Impact Statement and the 
Multi-Modal Transport Study should be completed.  Anything less would 
be criminally negligent on the part of the Scottish Executive.

If people desire to support this call for a Public Inquiry into the 
works around the A68 Dalkeith Bypass, they should write to-
Tavish Scott MSP
Minister for Transport
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Email-
Tavish.Scott.msp at scottish.parliament.uk
And copy to, just in case T. Scott decides to ignore your concern:
Mark Ballard MSP
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Email-
Mark.Ballard.msp at scottish.parliament.uk

Supporting evidence for the negligence surrounding the carrying out of 
works on the A68 Dalkeith Bypass:

$B,&(B	The Executive concluded in its Strategic Roads Review in 1999 that 
the A68 Dalkeith Bypass should be held in abeyance until the completion 
of a Multi-Modal Transport Study (to be completed in 2006).

$B,&(B	The need for the road was measured on a 1988 Network Evaluation from 
Surveys & Assignment (NESA) model, updated to 1991. This was prior to 
the building of the A7 Dalkeith bypass and the dualling of the A1, and 
it of course does not take into consideration the reopening of the 
Borders Rail Link (the $B!F(BWaverly Line$B!G(B).  The purpose of completing a 
Multi-Modal Transport study is to consider the potential need for the 
A68 Dalkeith Bypass (and other road projects) with regards to the 
overall changes to the transport structure.  No study to date has 
considered the said changes to the transport structure and the 
resulting need for the proposed bypass.

$B,&(B	The only Local Public Inquiry to consider the construction of the A68 
Dalkeith Bypass and its routing was carried out in 1992.  In 1996, a 
Local Public Inquiry was carried out to consider the potential dualling 
of the bypass; numerous objections to bypass$B!G(Bs construction and routing 
from this inquiry were ignored as being outside the remit of the 
inquiry.

$B,&(B	Planning permission was granted in 1993 for the A68 Dalkeith Bypass 
based on a weak Environmental Appraisal carried out in 1992.  This 
appraisal did not comply with statutory regulations for Environmental 
Impact Assessments laid out in 1988 (85/337/EEC).  In 1999, regulations 
for Environmental Impact Assessments were further tightened, and these 
should be taken into consideration.

$B,&(B	The woodland areas in Dalkeith Country Park through which the 
proposed bypass would pass are noted as sites of bat roosting and 
hibernation.  A bat survey was carried out by Scottish Natural Heritage 
in 1993 with regards to this.  However, a more recent survey has not 
been completed.  Scottish Natural Heritage was contacted only months 
ago to provide consultation, and a new survey was deemed necessary.  
This survey is planned, but since the hibernation of the bats has 
already begun this survey cannot be completed until the spring breeding 
season.

$B,&(B	The A68 Dalkeith Bypass was granted approval when the price of 
construction was suggested at $B!r(B22 million.  The current estimated cost 
is $B!r(B40 million, and there is no evidence to suggest this represents 
best value for taxpayers in terms of transport options for the area, 
especially acknowledging that the Multi-Modal Transport Study promised 
during the Strategic Roads Review in 1999 has never been carried out.

$B,&(B	It is also clear that the Executive is ill prepared to proceed with 
this project. Planning permission for the removal of the historically 
listed wall along Salters Road has lapsed.  Furthermore, planning 
permission for the settlement ponds necessary for the road works has 
yet to be applied for nor has the land they will be on been purchased.  
The potential environmental consequences of these ponds have never been 
given consideration in any assessments completed to date.

$B,&(B	Improved air quality and decreased traffic congestion in Dalkeith 
town-centre have been cited as major evidence supporting the bypass.  
However, the impact of the bypass on traffic flow and air quality out 
with Dalkeith has never been fully considered through an environmental 
assessment.  The Strategic Roads Review in 1999 concluded that though 
the A68 Bypass would have $B!F(Bnoise and air quality benefits$B!G(B there would 
be $B!F(Bgenerally negative ratings on the other environmental factors 
including global air quality, water, ecology, visual impacts, heritage 
and landscape character$B!G(B.


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