Letters of Objection

I wish to register the objections of the North East of England Green Party to the plans for a new Tyne road tunnel. We request that a Public Inquiry be called to explore the full range of impacts, some of which are listed below.

Our grounds for objection are that the proposed new Tyne Tunnel would:

• bring more traffic and congestion to roads in the immediate vicinity;
• increase car use amd dependency across the region;
• demonstrate a lack of commitment to less damaging means of transport, such as walking, cycling and public transport;
• increase road accidents and pollution levels through increasing traffic;
• attract long distance traffic and create an industrial A19 corridor north and south of the River Tyne, which would be dependent on road transport;
• threaten the Hebburn to Pelaw Riverside Park, a traffic free semi rural space which is enjoyed by local residents and visitors from across Tyneside;
• have a huge impact on the residents of Howdon, Jarrow and Simonside;
• require a massive amount of marine sediment and rock to be moved and dumped.

We are worried that without a full Public Inquiry the full environmental, social and economic impacts will not be examined and taken into account. Many people in the north east are expressing considerable concern about this project and about the larger road building programme, of which this would compromise a link. Clearly a project of this scale has implications across the local area and beyond.

Please keep me informed of any further developments.

Yours faithfully,