Road building schemes over the past two decades have failed to boost the local economy or reduce traffic, a damning report has claimed.
New research from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) said road schemes over the last 20 years have increased traffic ‘dramatically’ and damaged the countryside.
The report – The end of the road? – found schemes completed eight to 20 years ago demonstrated a traffic increase of 47%, with all new schemes putting pressure on adjoining roads. It also found more than half of the road schemes analysed harmed protected landscapes and designated environmental sites.
Just one in five demonstrated any evidence at all of economic benefit, the report concluded.
Ralph Smyth, head of infrastructure and legal at the CPRE, said: ‘This landmark research shows that any benefits from road building are far smaller than thought but the harm much worse. The Road Investment Strategy needs to be reset – not receive three times more funding.
‘Rather than looking to the past, the Government must invest in a forward looking mobility strategy that puts quality of life ahead of the car. The Government should reopen old rail lines, offer people travel options in town and countryside, and harness new technology to make more efficient use of road space. It should promote new housing on brownfield sites closer to jobs and services, rather than unleash car-dependent sprawl on green fields.’
