Road Clippings Jan - Mar 2000Road Clippings Jan - Mar 2000Relief road set to start early 2001 (T&A, Mar 25, 2000)
Relief needed (Letters, T&A, Mar 16, 2000)
'Sorry we cut your trees down' (T&A, March 16, 2000)
Roads no solution (Letters, T&A, Mar 11, 2000)
Road's opponents (Letters, T&A, Mar 9, 2000)
Promises broken (Letters, T&A, Mar 8, 2000)
Constant carping a diagram (Letters, T&A, Mar 8, 2000)
This is not the right road to be on (Aire Valley Target, Feb 24, 2000)
T&A is 'arrogant and pig ignorant' (Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000)
Apology needed (Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000)
Contempt (Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000)
Lib Dems naive (Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000)
FoE challenge (Letters, Keighley News, 25 Feb 2000)
Euro MP hits back at relief road criticism (T&A, 24 Feb, 2000)
Fury as Euro MP calls for delay to road (T&A 18 Feb, 2000)
Changing tune (Letters, Keighley News, 18/2/00)
End these 'sardine' runs (Editorial, T&A, 8 Feb, 2000)
What a relief as £60m road scheme is brought forward (T&A, Feb 5, 2000)
Road scheme's earlier start date comes as a relief (T&A, Feb 4, 2000)
On the road to a gridlock (Feature, T&A, Feb 4 2000)
T&A, Feb 4, 2000
Work will start a year early on the long-awaited Bingley Relief Road.
The surprise development - announced by Transport Minister Lord Whitty - means diggers could be on site by the end of the year.
And the new £60 million dual carriageway should open to traffic in 2003/4 instead of 2004/5.
Delighted Shipley MP Chris Leslie, who has been lobbying for an early start to the project, described the news as "absolutely fantastic". Government money for the huge project will be released in just eight weeks time.
Highways Agency chiefs are on the verge of inviting bids for the contract and Mr Leslie now hopes the tendering process can be fast-tracked.
"I've been pressing for speedy action on the Relief Road for a long time, and to have such concrete commitment from the Government for this scheme's completion is absolutely fantastic," he said. "The brakes are off now and the diggers will be here in a few months."
The good news for road campaigners came in an answer to a parliamentary question lodged by Mr Leslie.
Bingley is one of six schemes originally programmed for 2001/2002 but now brought forward 12 months.
The 5km section of new road will stretch from Crossflatts to Cottingley Bar roundabout, relieving traffic-choked Main Street - one of the district's worst pollution blackspots.
"The acceleration of six schemes reflects our commitment to modernising the country's transport system," Lord Whitty said. "Bringing them forward means communities suffering from the effects of heavy volumes of traffic will benefit from earlier delivery of a safer and healthier environment."
Mr Leslie said he would now contact the Highways Agency to talk about ways of speeding up the contracting process.
At the moment the Agency expects to award the contract in November or December but the MP hopes that this can now also be brought forward.
He said people in Bingley - who have been let down in the past - should now believe the road was at long last going to be a reality.
Councillor Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley Rural) said: "This is good news but remember this is the position we were in in April 1997, so it has taken them three years to come back to where we were before. Let's hope this means action."
David Ford, of the Shipley Green Party, which has opposed the road plan, feared the new road would shift the traffic backlogs and pollution from Bingley to the Saltaire/Shipley area.
"This is advancing by a year the type of misery the people of Saltaire and Shipley will have to endure. There are implications for Saltaire's bid for World Heritage Status," he said.
Feature, T&A, Feb 4 2000
THOUSANDS OF people across the district own cars and love using them.
They take their children to school or nip round to the corner shop to get a newspaper instead of walking the distance in just minutes.
But surprising statistics today reveal that those little journeys which could be avoided are contributing to the traffic snarl-ups in one of Britain's busiest cities.
The latest traffic survey in the district reveals the flow at peak hours in the school holidays is up by ten per cent, making travel in the city much quicker.
They also show a 30 per cent reduction in the number of people walking distances of under a mile in the district.
But transport chiefs, the Government and motoring organisations have warned that cities are heading for a standstill - unless urgent measures are taken to cut the use of cars.
The latest figures for Bradford and Leeds show peak hour traffic speeds have fallen from an average of 21.3 miles per hour in 1993 to 19.5.
And that could mean draconian measures proposed by Transport Secretary John Prescott could become a harsh reality.
He has put forward measures which have horrified some motorists, such as road tolls and levies on employers who provide parking spaces for their staff.
Bradford Council's Executive member for Transport Latif Darr says so far they are not being considered in Bradford.
Neighbouring Leeds Council, however, is jumping the gun and has already asked to be a pilot for road charges.
And Councillor Darr says he fears in the years to come the Government may insist on the unpopular measures, as towns and cities become totally gridlocked.
But what are the alternatives for Bradford's motorist - many of whom say they wouldn't touch public transport with a barge pole?
An RAC survey shows 81 per cent of Britain's commuters say they would never use buses or trains compared with only 65 per cent in 1988, while 75 per cent never use trains, an increase of 58 per cent.
The survey shows some commuter journeys on buses and trains take three times as long as the same time by car.
Bradford motorists say they worry because there is no guarantee they would reach their destinations in time with public transport.
They could also face uncomfortable journeys in shabby vehicles and have to walk long distances in bad weather to bus stops if they do not live near main routes.
Bradford Council hopes to reduce the expected increase in traffic from 16 per cent to 7.5 in the year 2010 by joining the four other West Yorkshire authorities in a bid to lever more Government funding to ease the road crisis.
The five-year plan focuses heavily on integrated schemes and improvements to public transport.
Petergate would be closed in Bradford city centre, which it is estimated would stop 28,000 vehicles a day from clogging up the streets.
There has already been a boost for Bradford with Government funds being allocated towards a £9 million state-of-the-art guided bus lane on snarled-up Manchester Road.
This is likely to tie in with the district's first major park and ride scheme in Odsal.
But businesses fear it could lead to even more hold-ups because the width of the road will be affected.
The Council is already going down the route of park and ride at Shipley, Bingley and Steeton railway stations, but even so, they depend on trains being punctual.
Cycling is being promoted by Bradford Council which is providing special routes for riders. But few people are taking up the option. If they do, health benefits could well be affected by pollution from traffic jams.
Air conditions are also a major factor in the Government's aim to keep road traffic down to a minimum.
Pollution particles exceeded the advised Government levels on at least two occasions in Bradford last year - and many people suffer from asthma.
The Council is also pioneering a safe routes to school project where children could make safe journeys without the need to be taken to school by car.
Coun Darr admitted that planning failures in the past had accelerated Bradford's traffic growth.
Out-of-town centres like the White Rose at Leeds were given permission for retail centres with huge, free car parks.
And the exodus to out-of-town centres from Bradford means that even at weekends people can be stuck in traffic.
Coun Darr says the errors of the past cannot be rectified, but the Council could well look at innovative measures for the future.
They could include the district's first car-free zones in housing developments.
Coun Darr said: "It could be a condition of planning that developments should be designed in a way to discourage people from having cars. It might be that residents could also sign covenants.
"Bradford isn't as bad as some other cities for traffic, but that doesn't mean that everything is okay and measures have to be taken."
But a car-free day in Bradford last year was a flop, and only a handful of drivers accepted an offer of free travel by the First Bradford bus company.
Coun Darr's deputy Councillor Phil Thornton said he believed park and ride schemes were the only solution, with big investments from rail and bus companies.
First Bradford has brought in a fleet of super buses and also plans to bring in articulated "bendy" buses which could carry more passengers at a time. They would be geared towards people with disabilities and parents with prams and pushchairs.
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is also carrying out a £1.7 million improvement scheme at its shabby bus deck at Bradford Interchange in a bid to draw in more passengers.
Rail chiefs say there will be new rolling stock, and huge improvements are taking place at Leeds Railway Station.
But Coun Darr says the answer to Bradford's traffic problems lies largely in educating the public to look at other means of transport.
A brainstorming session was due to be held today by the Aire Valley Public Transport Commission on what to do with Bingley Main Street following the building of the relief road.
Chaired by Shipley MP Chris Leslie, it will work out how to take full advantage of the opportunity created by the new road.
He is keen that Bingley should have a coherent, imaginative plan which will make it a byword for public transport excellence and a more pleasant place to shop and visit.
In particular he wants to see cutting edge technology introduced to provide information on public transport.
Bus stops with London Underground-style information boards showing how soon buses are due and where they are heading, as operate in Ipswich, would be a huge help, he says.
He added: "I want to make Bingley's public transport system user-friendly so people can just turn up to bus stops and immediately know how long they have to wait and the best way of getting around the area. To that end we shall be looking at other towns across Britain. I would also like to see some investment in the town centre."
He is convinced that public transport would be more widely used if its reliability could be enhanced and made more customer-friendly.
Other ideas for the town centre include possible pedestrianisation, bus lanes and narrowing the road space to create a more welcoming and relaxed high street with trees and paved areas with seats.
The campaign to build a relief road to unclog the A650 through Bingley town centre has been going on for longer than most people care to remember.
The Government has now given a firm commitment to the £60 million scheme, John Prescott signalling yesterday that he was bringing it forward by a year.
And as a member of a key Government transport committee, Mr Leslie is well placed to pester ministers about getting the relief road up and running.
He says: "I am convinced that we can now fast track the contracting process. Officials in the Highways Agency are writing up the contract now. We could see the diggers in by early 2001."
The chairman of Bradford Hoteliers' Association Richard Stoyle welcomes the building of the Bingley relief road.
And as general manager of the Bankfield Hotel, Bradford Road, Bingley, which will be directly affected by the new road, he knows better than most the problems caused by congestion and its impact on tourism in Bingley.
He said: "We view it as positive. The road as it is causes problems at this end of town. The traffic in the morning is a negative factor. It takes 25 minutes to take our kids on what should be a five-minute journey to Beckfoot School.
"Its construction will cause us some disruption as we will be right on the roundabout but generally we look upon it as positive. Ultimately it has got to work in our favour."
William Oxley, of Bingley's Five Rise Locks Hotel, said he would like to see efforts concentrating on how to market Bingley in five years' time when the road should be complete.
He said: "The danger for Bingley is that it could be forgotten. Saltaire is going for its World Heritage Status and Bingley could get left behind. However, there could be an explosion of eating places there making it an attractive proposition. The question is 'What are we trying to achieve?'"
T&A, Feb 5, 2000
Jubilant campaigners today hailed the early start to work on the Bingley Relief Road as the start of a new era for the town.
Transport Minister Lord Whitty has announced that the new £60 million dual carriageway should open to traffic in 2003/4 instead of 2004/5.
And Philip Smith, chairman of the Better Bingley Campaign, who has fought hard for the new road to go ahead despite objections from a vocal environmental lobby, said it could spark the rebirth of the town centre.
He said there were already signs of new life being breathed into the town centre since the relief road was given the go-ahead.
These included new street lighting and car parking.
"The street lighting will start in the next few weeks. We will be getting rid of the concrete monstrosities and having nice, graceful period-style lighting down Main Street," said Mr Smith.
"I believe all these things are just the tip of the iceberg. Once we start seeing the road being built people will start to invest in Bingley again. This announcement gives a clear signal to a lot of people. Everything's looking much more positive."
He said he hoped the Government might even make a financial saving by starting work on the road earlier, which could also benefit Bingley.
He said: "I am convinced that the Government isn't stupid and they realised there is a need for this road, despite the doubts that everyone has about its position and siting.
"The relief road is going to be a real catalyst for change. Bingley could be quite an attraction. It's got so much to offer."
The news that the road has been brought forward by 12 months was welcomed.
David Dinsey, Bingley town centre manager, said: "This is extremely good and welcome news for the town and we can only hope that the Highways Agency will be able to proceed with awarding the contracts as soon as possible."
Norman Roper, chairman of Bingley Civic Trust, said: "My reaction is one of unqualified delight. The civic trust has been quite active in supporting the road and I think we have never varied from that stance. We would welcome it very much."
Chris Leslie, 27, Labour MP for Shipley, said: "We have had people crying wolf for decades - it has been going on for longer than I've been alive."
Government money for the project will be released in eight weeks' time and Highways Agency officials are about to invite bids for the contract. The 5km relief road will run from Crossflatts to Cottingley Bar, relieving traffic-choked Main Street.
Editorial, T&A, 8 Feb, 2000
There have been plenty of calls in recent years for more carriages to be added to trains running locally, particularly at peak times. Usually those calls have come from commuters tired of impersonating sardines on their way to and from work.
Now Shipley Labour Party has added its voice to the chorus, backing an appeal by Metro and Northern Spirit to rail authority boss Sir Alistair Morton for grants to be made available to boost the capacity of the new trains being acquired for the Airedale and Wharfedale lines.
It is a reasonable enough request. Both lines have become more popular lately as roads have become increasingly choked up - the Airedale one particularly so because of the problems of driving up and down the valley route.
When the Crossflatts-to-Cottingley stretch of the Aire Valley road is built, it will solve Bingley's traffic problems but will not end the misery for motorists. Their nightmare will be over only when the Saltaire/Shipley section of the road has been sorted out, and that is not yet firmly on any agenda. Besides, there will remain the problem of bottlenecks at Shipley and Greengates with traffic travelling from Saltaire and Shipley to Leeds and from Wharfedale and lower Airedale into Bradford.
So it seems likely that severe congestion will continue. The train operators should be able to meet and further encourage demand for rail as an alternative by offering travel in comfort on local trains. If they cannot, then the danger is that commuters will opt for frustrating delays in the privacy of their cars rather than overcrowded conditions in cramped railway carriages.
Letters, Keighley News, 18/2/00
SIR - Last week's Keighley News reports that a new watchdog for public transport is up and running.
Keighley-based businesses will once again have a leading say in developing 'sustainable' transport schemes.
The old KBF pushed for the speeding up of transport links to the motorway and lobbied Ministers on behalf of companies in Keighley. Keighley Friends of the Earth communicated (Nov 21, 1996) with Harry Johnson, the Managing Director of Peter Black Distribution and main player in the old Keighley Business Forum Transport Group, asking for copies of minutes and showing interest in attending group meetings - no response was received.
Sustainable development involves taking into account the interest of future generations, it does not mean sustainable economic growth.
Locally we cannot cut ourselves off from global environmental problems. Disastrous effects on climate are predicted if 'watchdogs' that are obsessed with economic growth are allowed to destroy our countryside and add to global climate change through improving local traffic infrastructure.
As well as the Bingley Relief Road, which will sound the death knell for Bingley Bog, a scheme is currently being publicised to upgrade the A56 route between Colne and Skipton.
The route of the latter would use the track bed of the former Colne to Skipton railway for much of its path, effectively killing off the chances for any future reinstatement of this much-needed rail route.
Global warming is primarily the result of an increasing level of prosperity. Yet, we can have a better quality of life without ever increasing quantities of consumption.
People need to be willing and able to change their behaviour and not be 'conned' into believing that new roads and economic growth are vital to a sustainable 21st century.
If the new Keighley Transport Partnership is serious about sustainable transport schemes Keighley Friends of the Earth urges it to change its tune.
JANE HOWIE, Co-ordinator, Keighley Friends of the Earth.
by ROBERT SUTCLIFFE, T&A Reporter, 18 Feb, 2000
Euro MP Diana Wallis has caused outrage by calling for work on the Bingley relief road to be halted.
The MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber acted after the Government announced last week that it was bringing its start date forward and Professor Richard Butler, of Bingley Environmental Transport Association, arranged a site visit.
Ms Wallis said: "The original Environmental Impact Assessment was made nearly 20 years ago. At that time the Commission took the UK authorities to task over procedural inadequacies.
"I have asked the Commissioner to request the UK Government to delay proceeding any further with these roadworks until they are satisfied that all European-level requirements have been met.
"It is important that the process is carried out properly and that all environmental considerations are taken into account."
But her actions were scorned by Shipley MP Chris Leslie, Labour, a key backer of the scheme. He said: "The Lib Dems have never historically taken any interest in traffic problems in Bingley and for this woman to take this action will be surprising to people here to learn that she represents them.
"I would be very surprised if she has ever been to Bingley or been involved in our traffic problems.
"It will mean nothing, all the processes are cleared and we are motoring on, though these false alarms do not help. I think this action will damage the Lib Dems enormously, showing them to be out of touch with local opinion and shows their naivety"
A spokeswoman for the Highways Agency said: "As far as the agency is concerned the matter is closed, unless we hear any differently from the European Commission.
"It's a bit misleading to say that an investigation is being undertaken by the Commission which is what she seems to be suggesting."
Prof Butler said of the proposed road: "It's a bad scheme. Our position is that it should have a full Environmental Impact Assessment which would look at the whole Airedale route and the issue of transport.
"The authorities, including the Highways Agency, have pushed the issue under the carpet. All we want is for the law to be upheld."
T&A, 24 Feb, 2000
The Euro-MP who caused a storm by calling for the Bingley relief road to be delayed has hit back at her critics.
Diana Wallis, Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, was slated for becoming involved in the long-running saga.
She caused outrage by asking the European Commission to demand the Government delay work on the road until various European-level requirements were met.
Shipley Labour MP Chris Leslie, a key campaigner for the road, scorned her actions saying he doubted if she had ever been to Bingley and suggested she had been "nobbled" by Bingley Environmental Transport Association, critics of the scheme.
Diana Wallis said she was concerned that the original Environmental Impact Assessment of the road was made almost 20 years ago and the UK authorities had infringed some of the original directive.
Today she hit back and said: "I went to Bingley at the request of the Bingley Environmental Transport Association who contacted me shortly after my election (July, 1999). I visited on September 22 and witnessed the traffic problems in the town for myself.
"The issue at stake here is nothing to do with whether or not there is a traffic problem in Bingley. No-one disputes the fact that there is a problem but the circumstances have changed since the original plans were drawn up.
"We cannot turn a blind eye to environmental issues when it suits us. One must question whether the Bingley Relief Road as perceived 20 years ago remains the answer to Bingley's traffic problems of 2000 and the future.
"The fact that I have my office in Hull and live in the East Riding has nothing to do with this issue either. I represent all of Yorkshire & the Humber and it would be dishonest of me, and deceitful to my electorate, if I were not prepared to try to assist all members of the public when requested. That is the job of an elected official."
But Richard Corbett, Labour MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, said: "I am astonished that my fellow Euro-MP Diana Wallis who lives in Swanland near Hull, has seen fit to intervene in the issue of the Bingley Relief Road."
A Highways Agency spokesman said that as far as they were concerned the matter of the Environmental Impact Assessment was closed.
A spokesman said: "In 1986 the European Commission directed that road schemes over a certain size had to undergo an Environmental Impact Statement.
"A study was produced for Bingley in 1989. In 1991 some of the objectors made a statement saying it was not satisfactory but in 1993 it was decided that although there had been some infringements of the original directive no further action would be taken."
Letters, Keighley News, 25 Feb 2000
SIP. - Re letter from Keighley Friends of the Earth (FoE) in last week's issue.
As a Project Officer at the former Keighley Business Forum (KBF) I was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Transport Group from September 1997 to November 1999. At no time during that period was I aware of any approach in person or by letter, telephone, e-mall or facsimile from Ms Jane Howie or any other representative of Keighley FoE.
During the same period, KBF Transport Group co-operated successfully with other players to achieve: business presentations by English Welsh & Scottish Railway and Great North Eastern Railway on new rail opportunities; a promotional rail freight exhibition at Ingrow attended by 63 representatives from 30 companies and local authorities; a free-to-users town centre Park & Ride bus service and a Monday to Friday direct rail service between Keighley and Kings Cross.
Other developments actively sought by KBF Transport Group which will materialise in the near future include: a new bus station design; cycle lanes in central Keighley; reconstruction and lighting of the East Avenue footpath; movement of freight by rail from Keighley, bus network developments and the insertion of bus priority measures for central Keighley within the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.
I do not claim that KBF Transport Group was 'saving the planet', but it was working hard to gain a better quality of life for the people of Keighley through improvements in a variety of sustainable transport modes, and it received no help or encouragement - or even recognition - from Keighley FoE for its efforts. Perhaps readers could be informed exactly what Keighley FoE is doing in practical terms for Keigbley? Doesn't it approve of public transport improvements? Come on Jane, there's more to saving the planet than just arguing for or against the Bingley Relief Road!
R GRAHAM MITCHELL,
Dockroyd Lane, Oakworth.
Aire Valley Target (Feb 24, 2000)
SIR - While other towns learn to cherish their canalsides and see them as an opportunity for balanced development, Bingley's is to be destroyed. Instead, we are to get mock Victorian lampposts on the Main Street (Target, February 10), promise of a new supermarket, and a sub-standard 'relief' road requiring a 5omph speed limit in an attempt to make it safe.
The proposed sub-standard road would cut through the town alongside the canal creating extra traffic, noise and pollution. It would adversely impact on the internationally renowned Five and Three Rise Locks and destroy increasingly precious areas of wildlife and tranquillity
Motorists will gain little. The road would cost more than £60 million just to push a traffic jam two miles closer to Bradford. A few seconds for a few years on a journey to Bradford maybe gained, until the traffic growth cancels this out. Can anyone seriously believe that this is a wise use of taxpayer's money when health, education and public transport are starved of funds?
Richard Butler Bingley
Environmental Transport Association, Villa Road, Bingley.
Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000
SIR - Your February 18 leader, bewailing the representation of constituents' concerns regarding the proposed Bingley road by Diana Wallis MEP, was an indulgence in arrogance and pig ignorance.
Clearly the T&A wishes British and European law to be broken. So do local MP Chris Leslie, the Highways Agency and Transport Ministers Prescott, Macdonald and Whitty
However, the integrity of Diana Wallis MEP is clear, She seeks to ensure Environmental law is upheld.
You claim the environmental issues of this toad have been pored over. Show me a full environmental impact assessment. Show me a full noise or emissions or hydrological assessment throughout lower Airedale with all affected properties identified,
Your readers know that shunting additional congestion into Shipley, Saltaire and Heaton is not desperately needed. They're aware the road will generate traffic, induce housing development and doesn't tackle the root cause. Enlightened readers recognise that sustainable traffic management in Airedale requires an alternative battery of traffic reduction measures,
Contrary to your paper's unsubstantiated emotional claims, Diana Wallis' representation will cause widespread joy.
A J Plumbe, Oakwood Drive, Bingley.
Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000
SIR - Your comment (T&A February 18) was a disgrace and an insult to our MEP Diana Wallis.
We are surprised you do not understand that as MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber she has a duty to represent her constituents in Bingley just as much as Chris Leslie MP. Not only does your attitude show contempt, it is extremely embarrassing to readers.
Whether or not her challenge on behalf of those concerned at the damaging effects of the Bingley "relief road is upheld, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, you owe Mrs Wallis a public apology
Mr & Mrs S Ward, Ghyllwood Drive, Bingley.
EDITORS NOTE.. The Comment was entirely consistent with our previous leading articles which have been critical of the newly-imposed electoral system which has led to a lack of representation of local (ie Bradford and district) views in the European Parliament Mrs Wallis, who was allowed a fulsome right of reply, Is clearly not representing the majority view.
Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000
SIR - The issue of MEP Diana Wallis's call for delay in further spending on the Bingley relief road brings into question whether MP Chris Leslie is committed to his party's apparent pro-European policy
Britain is a member of the European Union, as decided by a democratic system that gave our MEP and MP their seats. Chris Leslie and your newspaper are showing contempt for the law in not insisting that the correct Environmental Impact Assessment be carried out on this road.
What is truly puzzling about this case is why there is so much resistance to carrying out a proper Environmental Impact Assessment. Are the authorities afraid that the project may be shown to be sub-standard and that air and noise pollution will be as bad as the project's opponents have been saying for 20 years?
John Robinson, Westgate, Bradford 1.
Letters, T&A Mar 1, 2000
SIR - News that the Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis is calling for a delay to the Bingley Relief Road showed just how naive and out of touch the Lib Dems are with the needs and views of the vast majority of local residents.
The handful of relief road opponent, who often write in this letters column, have managed to hook her in. However, 1 should like to assure readers that this move by Mrs Wallis is a red herring. When they made this same vague environmental appeal to the European Commission in 1993, no further action was taken, and the road opponents are trying to boil their cabbage twice.
I would like to take this opportunity to assure readers that this Government is now entirely determined to press on with construction. They money has been approved and brought forward in the accelerated programme for the financial year starting this April.
The advanced works are also accelerating, with major drainage tunnelling and route clearance currently taking place. I am confident that the tendering process will be swift and the contract proper awarded later this year.
As long as 1 have to say in this matter, the Bingley Relief Road will be delivered.
Christopher Leslie MP, Saltaire Road, Shipley.
Letters, T&A, Mar 8, 2000
SIR - At the Bingley Neighbourhood Forum on February 3, the representative of the Highways Agency promised that no tree-felling would be done in the foreseeable future in Bingley, since the preliminary work on the road was not due to start until autunm and the road itself was not due to be started until spring 2001.
Twenty days after this promise was given, a swathe of woodland 50 yards wide by one-third of a mile long, the area bounded by Wagon Lane, the Dowley Gap tip, the rugby and cricket fields and the river, has been completely felled in a most rough and ready manner, most of the trees having been cut off at waist level and some trunks having been partially broken off. The result is that we now have a splendid view of Dowley Gap tip.
1 feel that this is a disgraceful act of vandalism, turning what was previously a beautiful, ecologically varied and productive woodland into, literally, a waste.
I can see no possible justification for this action, although it might convince numbers of local people that we cannot trust a single word of Highways Agency says, particularly not their promises.
Muriel Thompson (Shipley Green Party), Priestthorpe Road, Bingley
Letters, T&A, Mar 8, 2000
SIR - Yet again the long-suffering people of Bingley are being assailed by the persistent whinging of Bingley Environmental Transport Association.
Their constant carping at the efforts of Chris Leslie, left, to rid the town of congestion and pollution, as well as trying to improve public transport down the Aire Valley corridor, is a disgrace.
Further, their latest effort - winding up Diana Wallace MEP - considering the large number of enquiries and public consultation exercises beggars belief.
Might 1 suggest that if the Bingley environment now and in future does not suit these people, they should consider moving somewhere more agreeable.
J Stephenson, Ashfield Crescent, Bingley,
Letters, T&A, Mar 9, 2000
SIR - Chris Leslie is deluded if he thinks the opponents of the Bingley "relief " road are few in number. Even within Bingley, those who are excited by a temporary improvement on Bingley High Street will be outnumbered by residents who will suffer from the new road.
The MP for Shipley does not want a proper Environmental Impact Assessment which would show just what the damage to the quality of life in the valley would be, as well as to the environment.
Bingley is only one community in Airedale. The detrimental effect of a Bingley "relief" road on Cottingley Heaton, Saltaire etc. is obvious.
The extra traffic "suckeed' down Airedale by the new road will also blight communities higher -up the valley with its increased traffic noise and air pollution.
Is the pro-"relief " road group prepared for the impact of an extension of the M65 from Colne to Skipton? Yet more traffic making for Airedale; yet another triumph for a road lobby.
Presumably the necessity for a proper Environmental Impact Assessment will again be cynically rubbished.
David Bateman, Hospital Road, Riddlesden, Keighley.
Letters, T&A, Mar 11, 2000
SIR - In your Comment on the Bingley relief road you sneeringly accuse MEP Diana Wallis of meddling in an issue in which she lacks local knowledge or commitment.
I fail to see how you come to this conclusion as Diana Wallis is democratically elected to represent Yorkshire, not placed in that position by some quango.
Her insistence upon applying European standards to environmental protection is to be applauded. A road is permanent; mistakes, therefore, cause irreparable damage.
More roads are no longer the solution to our traffic problem. Five West Yorkshire metropolitan councils are currently considering alternatives and consulting the public. Improved public transport, regenerated waterways, restricted vehicle access and traffic calming are some of their bright, modern ideas, not extra roads that damage the environment still further.
Concentrate on the long-term issues and serious impact a bad road scheme would create.
Evelyn Friend, Mount Pisgah, Otley.
T&A, March 16, 2000
A roads boss has apologised for misleading Bingley residents over tree-felling along the proposed relief road.
David Harvey, group leader of the Highways Agency, said he was sorry after complaints from Shipley Green Party that promises given to Bingley Neighbourhood Forum on February 3 had been broken.
An angry Muriel Thompson said what had been done represented a disgraceful act of vandalism.
"At the forum the representative of the Highways Agency promised that no tree-felling would be done in the foreseeable future in Bingley, since the preliminary work on the road was not due to start until autumn and the road itself was not due to be started until spring 2001.
"Twenty days after this promise was given, a swathe of woodland 50 yards wide by one-third of a mile long - the area bounded by Wagon Lane, the Dowley Gap tip, the rugby and cricket fields and the river - had been completely felled.
"This was done in a most rough and ready manner, most of the trees having been cut off at waist level and some trunks having been partially broken off - the result being that we now have a splendid view of Dowley Gap tip."
Mr Harvey agreed that an Agency representative had told the forum meeting no trees would be felled this winter and it would be carried out in Autumn 2000. But in a statement to the Telegraph & Argus, he said: "After the Government announced that Bingley was one of a number of national road schemes to be accelerated, it was decided to bring forward some of the preparatory work, including the tree felling.
"Prompt action was then required by the Highways Agency to ensure the trees were felled before the beginning of March and the start of the bird-nesting season. The trees are now down and work is in hand to remove debris and wind-blown rubbish from the site.
"I apologise for misleading the neighbourhood forum. The subsequent tree felling was a response to external factors and is part of a package of measures which should ensure the main works contract meets the new accelerated start date."
The final road scheme would feature landscaping and include substantial tree planting, resulting in many more trees.
Letters, T&A, Mar 16, 2000
SIR - In reply to David Bateman's letter on Bingley relief road (T&A March 9).
I hope I speak for the silent patient majority who have been waiting years for the by-pass. What world do these anti-road protesters live in?
Do they use the Bingley stretch of the A650 every morning and evening rush hour? Do they work? Do they have to meet time schedules or are they retired or part-time when they can choose what time they use the road? Do they sit 20 minutes waiting to turn right, or alternatively, turn left on a half-mile detour for a safe turn-round?
Mr Bateman, if you drive, I can safely bet you will be using the new road within days of it opening.
The car is here to stay, and until it is either banned by law or public transport runs every 15 minutes either direction within 15 minutes walk of every street end, 1 and others will use them.
To Chris Leslie: Keep up the good work - we need that road.
M J Gledhill, Ashgrove, Cottingley Bridge, Bingley-
by ROBERT SUTCLIFFE, T&A Reporter, Mar 25, 2000
Tenders for the Bingley relief road should be going out in May it has been revealed by the Highways Agency.
Peter Scally, project engineer for the £59ni scheme, said most of the major civilian and engineering groups had expressed an interest and the contract would be awarded in November or December.
He said that meant work could then begin immediately but it was more likely to start in the new year with an completion date of autumn 2003.
"The next big stage is the invitation to tender which will hopefully be going out in May" he said.
"We have had all the replies to the European Journal ad and we are now assessing these responses and will be arriving at a shortlist in May and then inviting tenders. Over a dozen companies have expressed an interest.
"It will he a very difficult project technically, difficult ground conditions, the bogs (north and south) and Midland Hill car park. The glaciated valley left a lot of debris and unpredictable material. It is one of the most interesting and technically challenging schemes I've been involved in and I am pleased to be so."
He was keen to emphasise the enormous impact of the road on the Bingley area. "It's going to make the biggest impact in the area since the canal and the railways in 1846. In a historical context it is very important," he said.
And as someone who was involved in the abandoned 1975 public inquiry into the Aire Valley Trunk Road, he is enthusiastic about seeing this project through.
Disruption is to be kept to a minimum though given the massive scale of the project there is bound to be some. In order to mitigate these there will be close, on-the-ground monitoring of the situation.
He said: