Discussions about transport tend to become divisive. Many motorists defend their ‘rights’ vocally on social media when topics around green transport are raised.
Those in power continue to peddle the myth that new roads solve congestion and improve air quality. In fact, study after study has shown that new roads generate traffic. It is a phenomenon called induced demand, and that means air quality becomes worse as spare road capacity results in many more vehicles.
Many say that electric cars will solve all our problems. That is not true, either. Electric vehicles do emit pollution — tiny particles come from cars’ tyres and brakes. There are ethical problems around mining for materials. And more cars mean more congestion and more environmentally damaging road-building. Greenpeace put it nicely, when they say, “Electric cars are greener than petrol cars — but they’re far from perfect. Switching to electric cars is essential, but it’s not enough. Our transport system needs a rethink.”
Anyone who suggests that things might need to be done differently is angrily heckled in Twitter and Facebook conversations. I have been called a luddite by an ex-council leader. Yet all I want is a better future. One with less congestion, with better air for my children, with safe cycle and pedestrian routes, and with excellent public transport. That is perfectly normal in Europe, particularly in Holland, Denmark and Germany. One of the best examples is Freiburg, which I visited with my children. Trams, trains & buses are cheap and efficient and the 450 km of cycle paths are safe. Why can’t we do plan like this in the UK, and why would anyone want a future of more roads, more traffic jams and ever worsening air quality?
Joint statement
My despair at the lack of sustainable transport and the number of futile road-building projects proposed in north Essex, where I live, was my motivation for bringing together a group of seventeen transport campaigners in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. We signed a joint statement to Transport East, in response to its 30-year strategy consultation, calling for greener priorities.
Transport East is the sub-national transport body for Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and the unitary authorities of Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock. It is a partnership which provides a single voice for councils, business leaders and partners on the region’s transport strategy and strategic transport investment priorities. It works in close collaboration with the government and the rest of the UK.
Good aspirations
It is great to see that Transport East is coordinating a transport strategy. Its six desired outcomes are spot on:
- Better public transport connections accessible to everyone
- Places that make it easy and attractive for people to move around sustainably
- More reliable business and freight journeys, due to less congestion and fewer incidents
- A healthier, more active population – by making it easier to walk and cycle more often
- Cleaner, greener transport, helping to protect our local environment and the world for future generations
- People needing to make fewer journeys, partly due to better online connections bringing services into our homes.
So, why the need for a joint statement?
Fuel to the fire
The projects listed do not deliver the desired outcomes. They are just more of the same — roads.
Worse, they are roads to unlock housing growth, something which always makes me want to scream with frustration. There needs to be an integrated transport strategy that works for the current population of the east of England. Yes, future growth needs to be factored in, but planners invariably neglect those of us who live here already.
Furthermore, building roads to unlock growth is the worse thing we can possibly do. It’s adding fuel to the fire: more congestion, a sedentary and unhealthy population, and terrible air quality. It is a long time before the shift to electric vehicles is made and, as pointed out above, they too emit pollution.
Transport East’s proposed vision is: “A thriving economy for the East, with fast, safe, reliable, and resilient transport infrastructure driving forward a future of inclusive and sustainable growth for decades to come”.
Cllr Robert Lindsay, deputy leader of the Green, Lib Dem, Independent Group on Suffolk County Council, commented: “It is disappointing that Transport East is perpetuating, in projects selected, the Government line that growth, specifically housing growth along major roads, is good. They have repeatedly said they want to reach zero carbon by 2030. Their proposed strategy, as part of Transport East, contains lots of fancy words about sustainable goals but look closely and the proposed actions and spending are mainly about road building to encourage more driving, more use of airports and more house building.”
Andrew Boswell, former Norfolk County Councillor and campaigner, concurs: “In Norfolk, road-building has dominated transport planning for decades. Now that is taking us ever further from the net zero target and destroying ecosystems and blighting communities with noise and air pollution.”
A better vision would be: “Safe, reliable and resilient transport infrastructure with an active & public transport focus, driving forward a sustainable & inclusive future”.
More on climate issues
Greener priorities
Those of us who signed the joint statement want to see a transport plan that actually delivers on the green vision set out in the Transport East consultation. What the region desperately requires is a plan that moves away from road-building and focuses on an integrated rural and urban public transport service and safe cycling routes for school children and commuters. That, perhaps funded by a workplace parking levy, as introduced with great success in Nottingham, to pay for an extensive tram and bus network, or the introduction of road pricing, as has been urged by MPs only this month will be the only way that we can cut carbon emissions and congestion and improve air quality for the people of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.
We seek a strategy that:
- prioritises funding for cycling, walking and public transport;
- puts a freeze on new carbon-emitting, traffic-inducing road-building;
- addresses current transport needs rather than ‘unlocking’ thousands of new homes through road-building. Firstly an integrated strategy is needed that prioritises residents of the region and secondly, planning for new homes should be based around the right location and the right public transport to reduce the need for new roads;
- takes into account the problems and benefits of different transport approaches. These should include health problems and costs to the NHS caused by air pollution and traffic noise, and benefits such as lower healthcare costs for active populations who cycle and walk regularly.
A strategy which does this would be fairer and healthier for all.
What’s next?
We are delighted that, following the submission of our joint statement, Transport East has agreed to meet to have a discussion. We know that Transport East has recently received £800,000 from government, which brings its funding for 2021-22 to £1.3million, and that the group regularly lobbies parliament. We will be asking if Transport East’s focus and funds can be directed towards greener priorities for a better future for our younger generations.
The statement:
Campaigners from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex have signed a joint statement calling for greener priorities in Transport East’s 30-year plan.
The campaigners want to see a transport plan that actually delivers on the green vision set out in the Transport East consultation. They seek a strategy that:
- prioritises funding for cycling, walking and public transport;
- puts a freeze on new carbon-emitting, traffic-inducing road-building;
- addresses current transport needs rather than ‘unlocking’ thousands of new homes through road-building;
- takes into account the problems and benefits of different transport approaches. These should include health problems and costs to the NHS caused by air pollution and traffic noise, and benefits such as lower healthcare costs for active populations who cycle and walk regularly.
Suffolk quote:
“It is disappointing that Transport East is perpetuating, in projects selected, the Government line that growth, specifically housing growth along major roads, is good. They have repeatedly said they want to reach zero carbon by 2030. Their proposed strategy, as part of Transport East, contains lots of fancy words about sustainable goals but look closely and the proposed actions and spending are mainly about road building to encourage more driving, more use of airports and more house building.” Cllr, Robert Lindsay, deputy leader of the Green, Lib Dem, Independent Group on Suffolk County Council Council.
Essex quote:
“Transport East’s consultation starts with all the right words, but when you delve into the projects that are proposed, it’s clear that it’s more of the same: road-based growth. What the region desperately requires is a plan that moves away from road-building and focuses on an integrated rural and urban public transport service and safe cycling routes for school children and commuters. That, perhaps funded by workplace charging, as introduced with great success in Nottingham, will be the only way that we can cut carbon emissions and improve air quality for the people of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk.” Rosie Pearson, Campaigner, Essex.
Norfolk quote:
“In Norfolk, road-building has dominated transport planning for decades. Now that is taking us ever further from the net zero target and destroying ecosystems and blighting communities with noise and air pollution. While it is good to see some very positive goals in Transport East’s 30-year strategy, the reality is that still far too much emphasis is being placed on building roads to support car-based travel. It is important to realise that electric cars are not the solution to our problems. They further encourage road-building, do nothing to prevent congestion and encourage urban sprawl instead of walkable communities.” Andrew Boswell, former Norfolk County Councillor and campaigner
Signed by:
Cllr James Abbott, leader of the Green & Independent Group on Braintree District Council Andrew Boswell, Activist & Consultant, Norfolk Colne Stour Countryside Association Lisa Cross, campaigner and Green Party member. Alistair Daw, Billericay Action Group, Essex Cllr Lucy Galvin Leader Green Party Group Norwich City Council Edward Gildea, Uttlesford Green Party Cllr, Robert Lindsay, deputy leader of the Green, LibDem, Independent Group on Suffolk County Council Council Andrea Luxford-Vaughan, Mayor of Wivenhoe, and Colchester Borough Councillor Rebekah McGrane, Campaigner, Essex Rosie Pearson, Planning & Environmental campaigner, Essex Cllr Ben Price Leader Green Party Group Norfolk County Council Cllr Tim Regester, Campaigner, Suffolk Trisha Roberts, Campaigner Dr Iain Robinson on behalf of Wensum Woodlanders, Norfolk Michael Staines, Campaigner & Independent Candidate, Essex Cllr Paul Thorogood, Green Party, Essex
