Today's most viewed
They picked the wrong link route - MP
GERALDINE Smith insists the battle over the M6 link road has just begun - and she will fight on for an alternative route.
The Morecambe and Lunesdale MP says the Northern route from Heysham to the M6, granted planning permission by county councillors last week, is the wrong option.
And now she intends to call for a public inquiry.
"I am not surprised planning permission was granted because county were acting as judge and jury on their own case," says Ms Smith, pictured.
"That is the weakness of the planning system - but the battle has just begun.
"Most people agree that the only route to take is the Western one with a bridge over the River Lune from Asda to Luneside.
"If I honestly believed this was the correct route I would be talking to the residents of Torrisholme and Slyne about compensation. But it isn't the route to take. It will not solve the district's problems."
Supporters of the road, from the existing Heysham link to junction 34 of the M6, say it will improve the local economy and ease traffic problems. But critics claim it will be a blot on the landscape.
Lancaster City Council leader Cllr Ian Barker says: "This is a great step forward for the district. We do need this road if we are not to have a two-speed economy in the district, with Lancaster moving ahead and Morecambe always hindered by its poor communications."
11:49am Wednesday 8th November 2006
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: James Seddon on 6:07pm Wed 8 Nov 06
Well said Geraldine, it does not address our congestion problem, it is only designed to attract more HGV's to the Ferry.
It destroys the Green Belt and there is a questionmark over the viability of Lancaster and Morecambe College with 900 jobs at risk.
It does nothing for regeneration at Bailrigg and Luneside and our biggest employer Lancaster University, remains remote from North Lancaster and Morecambe. At £137 million and rising, it would be poor value for money.
Well said Geraldine, it does not address our congestion problem, it is only designed to attract more HGV's to the Ferry.
It destroys the Green Belt and there is a questionmark over the viability of Lancaster and Morecambe College with 900 jobs at risk.
It does nothing for regeneration at Bailrigg and Luneside and our biggest employer Lancaster University, remains remote from North Lancaster and Morecambe. At £137 million and rising, it would be poor value for money.
Posted by: dave tymon, lancaster on 1:16pm Tue 25 Mar 08
neither the northern nor the western/southern link road will ease traffic in lancaster. The problem is getting traffic from one side of lancaster to the other. For example, we build a new bridge from asda to luneside. Then what? we can either send it down the quay or down west road and onto meeting house lane to join the one way system at waterstones. At which point, the traffic will face the age old problem of getting from one side of lancaster to the other.
neither the northern nor the western/southern link road will ease traffic in lancaster. The problem is getting traffic from one side of lancaster to the other. For example, we build a new bridge from asda to luneside. Then what? we can either send it down the quay or down west road and onto meeting house lane to join the one way system at waterstones. At which point, the traffic will face the age old problem of getting from one side of lancaster to the other.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
