OBJECTORS PUT THEIR CASE TO THE
TUNNEL INQUIRY
Objectors to the proposed new Tyne road tunnel will start putting their
case to the Inquiry [1] on the afternoon of Wednesday 19th March [2].
First off will be Mr Martin Murphy speaking for NECTAR (North East
Combined Transport Activists' Round Table).
Mr Murphy will raise doubts about the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport
Authority's (PTA's) estimates of traffic growth and the job creation
benefit claimed. He will emphasise the need to consider the
alternative of traffic restraint, and to recognise the massive
disbenefits proposed for local residents just to save motorists a few
minutes on their journeys. Mr Murphy will point out that the
"Predict and Provide" mode of transport planning was
discredited long ago.
Other campaigning groups such as Friends of the Earth, CPRE and local
residents' groups will follow on Wednesday and subsequent days.
Local residents will highlight threats to their houses and local
environment during the construction and subsequent operation of the
proposed tunnel. They will cite the recently released Prospective
Health Impact Assessment [3]. This Assessment identifies certain
adverse impacts from the project for some local residents [4] and
includes a substantial list of possible negative impacts [5] from which
local residents and others are at risk. Objectors will argue that
most of the claimed positive impacts are aspirational, are wrongly
assessed, and will not occur.
Objectors are campaigning for the tunnel scheme to be abandoned and
replaced by a robust traffic restraint policy with improved public
transport. They will argue that should the need for such an
additional link be demonstrated, an alternative rail crossing further
down the River Tyne is technically feasible and potentially viable.
Paul Winch, Co-ordinator for the Tyne Crossings Alliance which opposes
the tunnel scheme said: "The Health Impact Study shows the health
risks very clearly. Some, relating to the effects of the
construction on local residents, are definite. Others are geared
to the volume of traffic induced. We dispute the tunnel proposers'
figures on this, and suggest that induced traffic will be larger than
they indicate. The promoters' claim that the tunnel leads to an
improvement in pollution levels is false because it compares a new
tunnel with an alternative [that no one has ever suggested should be
allowed to occur]".
NOTES TO EDITORS
1) The second Tyne road tunnel is promoted by the PTA and is currently
the subject of a Public Inquiry at Jarrow Community Centre. Details of
the Inquiry may be obtained from the Inquiry Website:
www.newtynecrossing.info
2) The latest timetable for the Inquiry may be obtained from Mr Ian
Stearman, Inquiry Programme Officer, on (0191) 489 0732, during working
hours. A timetable (which will require updating as the Inquiry proceeds)
appears on the Inquiry Website (see (1) above). Mr Stearman's e-mail
address is: ian.stearman@newcastle.gov.uk
3) The Prospective Health Impact Assessment of the new Tyne road tunnel
proposal was produced by Professor Susan Milner and a team drawn mainly
from Northumbria University. The team operated under the guidance of a
Steering Group which included the Health Authorities, the PTA, Ove Arup
(consulting engineers to the PTA), and the local Boroughs. The work was
funded jointly by the PTA and the local Health Authorities.Printed
versions of the Assessment may be available from the Inquiry Programme
Officer (see (2) above). The full text (a large document) can be
downloaded from:
www.tyne-crossings.org/downloads.htm
4) The Report's Findings and Conclusions are reproduced below as
Appendix A.
5) The "Issues of Public Concern" referred to in the Summary
are reproduced below as Appendix B.
6) The Tyne Crossings Alliance consists of: CPRE, Friends of the Earth
(FOE), Living Streets, North East Railway Development Society
(railfuture NE), Roadpeace, The Green Party, Transport 2000, Tynebikes.
7) For further information on the campaign to stop the second Tyne road
tunnel see the Tyne Crossings Alliance website: www.tyne-crossings.org
Contacts: Paul Winch: (0191) 483 5619
info@tyne-crossings.org
Brian Paget: (0191) 421 5747
brian-paget@tyne-crossings.org
APPENDIX A
PROSPECTIVE HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Findings and conclusions
The HIA has attempted to broadly map out how human health may be
affected positively and negatively during the construction and
subsequent operation of the new Tyne Tunnel. No attempt has been made to
rank or weight these impacts. Suggestions for enhancement of positive
impacts and mitigation of negative impacts have been made.
The HIA reveals that there are guaranteed short-term dis-benefits for
those directly affected by the construction of the new Tyne Tunnel. In
the main, these are the local communities of Howdon, Riverside, Bede and
Primrose wards, especially those residents living around the portals of
the tunnel system. These communities are already disadvantaged in
socio-economic and health terms and, as such, they are likely to be even
more adversely affected by the negative impacts of the prolonged
construction period and some of the residual effects of the new tunnel
system during its operation than more affluent communities would be
(though it is not possible to quantify this additional disadvantage).
The longer-term benefits of regional economic growth and greater job
opportunities are aspirational and may not benefit those who have
suffered the dis-benefits during the construction.
However, if the enhanced transport infrastructure facilitated by the new
tunnel does lead to greater inward investment and a growth in the
regional economy, many other groups within the region are likely to
benefit from greater job opportunities. This could offer a more
widespread positive impact on health for the region.
There are a number of ‘issues of public concern’ that have been
identified in relation to health and these should be addressed by the
TWPTA.
APPENDIX B
PROSPECTIVE HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT
5.6 Issues of public concern.
During the HIA, we spoke to a wide range of individual stakeholders and
key informants. As a result of these discussions, we were able to
identify a number of issues that are causing concern. They have not been
presented as negative health impacts, as we do not have evidence that
they will actually occur. However, the fact that people think that they
might is worthy of note. These concerns should not be ignored, but
should be addressed by the TWPTA, perhaps through an information or
educational initiative. They are as follows:
During construction.
· Infestation (especially rats) due to soil disturbance.
· Effects of an influx of new people into the area (i.e. itinerant
workers).
· Disruption of utilities to homes and businesses.
· Reduction in drinking water quality.
During operation.
· Will local people benefit from the inward regional investment?
· Will toll prices be a disincentive, especially for unemployed seeking
work?
· Will the extra traffic simply mean that the new tunnel system will be
jammed sooner rather than later? In which case, what will it have all
been for?
· A worsening of air quality due to increased volume of traffic through
the tunnel.
· If there is an upturn in the socio-economic status of the local
deprived communities, because of the increased job opportunities, will
their car ownership levels (currently much lower than average) simply
increase to match the average and what will be the impact of this on
road traffic levels in the area?
END OF APPENDIX B
This Press release is issued by the Tyne Crossings Alliance c/o Paul
Winch, 81 North Drive, Hebburn, Tyne and Wear, NE31 1EW, e-mail and
telephone as above.
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