DERBYSHIRE/CHESHIRE A57/A628 Mottram in Longdendale, Hollingworth and Tintwistle Bypass

The A57/A628 is one of the most congested A-road routes in the country, connecting Manchester to Sheffield. Demands for a bypass go back as far as 1989, as high volume traffic causes noise, heavy congestion and safety problems for residents in the villages of Mottram, Hollingworth and Tintwistle.

Despite getting the go ahead in July 2008, funding for the bypass has now been deferred until 2016, after the Regional Leaders Forum, 4NW, informed the Department for Transport that after assessing its priorities for funding from the Regional Funding Allocation it wanted to delay the proposed start of the scheme by at least four years, until 2016/17.

As a consequence of this decision, the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government cancelled the Public Inquiry into the bypass.

Tameside Council are currently exhibiting plans to alleviate congestion in the area and findings are expected in Spring 2010.

Residents' groups continue to campaign for a by-pass to improve the quality of life in their villages. A campaign website is available here.

ROAR - Redesign Our A5 Road

ROAR - Redesign Our A5 ARoad - seeks to have the A5 made into a dual carriageway between Ruabon and Nescliffe, in Shropshire.

The campaign has a Facebook group. It states "After 3 deaths in the last month on the A483/A5 near Chirk, it is time the highways authority and the Government made changes to make this stretch of road safer. This stretch of road goes from dual carriageway to single lane with a part of it 2 lanes in one direction, with the rest wide single lanes. Many head on collisions have occured due to overtaking in these wide single lanes.

"Anyone that travels this stretch of road will know how many near misses there are on a daily basis. How many more people need to die before something is done about this? Make it dual carriageway all the way through and put some safety measure in place now to stop dangerous overtaking!"

The campaign also has a petition on the Number 10 Downing Street website. The e-petition facility is temporarily suspended for the duration of the General Election campaign.

NORFOLK: A11 Dualling Project, Fiveways to Thetford

This £135m dualling project would give Norwich continuous dual carriageway access to the rest of the country’s strategic motorway and highways network for the first time.

The report of the Public Inquiry has been returned to the Transport Secretary for consideration.

The campaign for this route to be dualled has been supported by the Eastern Daily Press, the East of England Regional Assembly, local authorities, MPs, EEDA, business organisations and media petitions, united in calling for the completion of the dualling earlier than its originally planned 2013 start date.

NORFOLK: A47 ALLIANCE

Chairman: Adrian Gunson, 01508 482543

The long-term aim of the A47 Alliance is to secure the dualling of the A47 from the A1 to Great Yarmouth. The medium-term objectives are to secure the dualling of and improvements to specific lengths of the A47 by sustained lobbying at both regional and national levels. Membership is drawn from County, District and Parish Councils, the business community and local, regional and national organisations.

For further information contact: John Skillings Address: Department of Planning & Transportation, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich NR1 2SG

Links: Keith Simpson MP, Campaign to Dual the A47: http://www.keithsimpson.com/a47/

CAMBRIDGESHIRE: A14

The A14 runs between the Port of Felixstowe and the junction of the M1 and M6 motorways near Rugby. It is a major freight route.

In March 2005 the Highways Agency announced plans to upgrade the A14 to three lanes in each direction between Fen Ditton and Ellington. A Public Inquiry has been announced. Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce is calling for the work to be brought forward from the current planned start of 2012.

ESSEX: A12 Alliance

Chair: Councillor Norman Hume, Chairman of the A12 Alliance and Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation

The A12 between the M25 and the A14 is the key route through eastern Essex and south east Suffolk, but is classified only as a route of “regional” rather than national importance on the HA network.

Essex County Council wishes “to persuade the Government and the Highways Agency to improve the A12 between the M25 and the A14 into a high quality reliable route capable of meeting the demands of businesses and individuals in order to stimulate economic activity and improve strategic accessibility.”

Sir David Rowlands, Professor Stephen Glaister, Dr David Quarmby and Lord Whitty were invited by Essex County Council to hold an independent inquiry into the needs of the A12.

The report made 28 recommendations, among them a call to upgrade the route to a modern dual lane standard, and the creation of an “A12 Alliance” to bring together local groups with an interest in the route.