Highways England has confirmed that its controversial project to build an access road for the Port of Liverpool right through Rimrose Valley Country Park is two to three years behind schedule [1].
The hugely unpopular scheme was announced as the preferred option in 2017, despite the majority of public opinion being against this route and others calling for better options to be explored in Highways England’s first round of consultation [2].
The Government-owned company has faced enormous opposition to its plans; including a legal challenge, mass demonstrations and calls for better alternatives to be put forward [3].
Stuart Bennett of the Save Rimrose Valley Campaign said:
“This delay is significant and is down to not only Sefton Council’s judicial review, but also the hard fought campaign we have waged against this cheap, lazy and destructive solution. We believe that Highways England is rattled by the level of opposition it is facing.
“It claims that it is ‘fully committed to working alongside our partners and local community to ensure we have a solution which benefits everyone’. This is rubbish. Unlike the A27 scheme around Chichester [4], neither Highways England, nor the Transport Secretary has halted our scheme to discuss better solutions with our MPs, or to genuinely listen to our communities’ views. The fact that we are we being treated so differently is a disgrace.
“What is hugely encouraging is that more and more people are offering their help, knowledge and skills to fight this road. People simply do not want to see Rimrose Valley destroyed.
“They are sick and tired of hearing vague claims that this road will contribute to the economic prosperity of the region. This is nothing more than a smokescreen for the real driving force behind the road, namely Peel Ports.
“Highways England should be in no doubt that we are going nowhere and will be ramping up our own efforts. We will fight this road every inch of the way. We won’t give up and we will get a better solution, not only for the people of Sefton, but also the whole Liverpool City Region. This issue affects all of us.”
Notes
[1] Link to Highways England email, confirming delay. Copy available on request:
[2] The proposed road through Rimrose Valley Country Park is an upgrade to the current A5036 Liverpool Port Access Road. Highways Englandwants to build this road after a consultation where it offered only two options, both of which were unpalatable to the local community and in fact weren’t any choice at all. Option B (Rimrose Valley) was the least favoured. Summary of results here:
[3] As reported previously, Sefton Council, MPs Peter Dowd and Bill Esterson and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram all call for better alternatives to be put forward
[4] Link to Press Release highlighting contrast to Chris Grayling’s decision to cancel A27 scheme:
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