80mph proposals make a mockery of government's green aspirations says Manchester's Foe

The Manchester branch of Friends of the Earth has none too happy with the government's proposals to look at raising the speed limit on the nation's motorways

Here is their press release

Manchester Friends of the Earth is dismayed by the proposals outlined by Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Transport during the Conservative Party conference to allow 80 mph speed limits on the UK’s motorway network.
The Minister has claimed that increasing the motorway speed limit to 80mph would “generate economic benefits of hundreds of millions of pounds through shorter journey times."
Manchester Friends of the Earth believes the Minister appears to either be unaware of, or be ignoring, evidence from both his own, and other government departments that has shown that increasing motorway speed limits will:


Increase the number of people killed and injured on the strategic road network.

The Transport Committee report on Road Traffic Speed estimated that raising the motorway speed limit to 80 mph would lead to an increase in motorway casualties of between 5 and 10 per cent. This indicates that a change in the limit would lead to between 50 and 115 more people killed and seriously injured per year.


Waste more fuel.

According to the Department for Transport driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more than at 50mph. Cruising at 80mph can use up to 25% more fuel than at 70mph.


Cause more air pollution.

In 2011, the GM Air Quality Strategy Plan acknowledged that the motorway network around Greater Manchester was one of two areas that was breeching the EU limit value of 40μg/m3 for NO2 air pollution.



Have a higher impact in poorer communities.

A 2006 study found that the most deprived areas had some of the highest levels of NO2 and PM10 pollutants and that this air pollution was “driven by road transport sources”.


Cause higher C02 emissions.

In June 2011, the UK Committee on Climate Change (an independent body established under the Climate Change Act (2008) to advise the UK Government on setting and meeting carbon budgets and on preparing for the impacts of climate change) reported that a “sustained increase in speeds would significantly increase emissions (e.g. an 80mph speed limit could result in emissions up to 3.5 MtCO2 higher than restricting speeds to the current limit)” [7] The Committee recommended a reduction in motorway speed limits to 60mph.

The transport sector is responsible for 25% of the C02 emissions in the United Kingdom [8] and enforcing the current speed limits or reducing speed limits would provide considerable CO2 emission reductions. [9]


Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth Transport campaign co-ordinator said:

“The proposed speed limit increase is being justified on economic grounds, but it is unfortunately likely to result in more deaths and injuries on the roads, worse air pollution, and increased climate change emissions. It would make a mockery of evidence from the minister's own department and fly in the face of the Government's aspiration to be in the 'greenest government ever’.”

The age of the train

Are we entering a new golden age of public transport?

Maybe.The government today in the form of Transport secretary Lord Adonis announced plans for a high speed rail link.

The initial section of the high speed link would run from London Euston to Birmingham but controversilly rules out a link to Heathrow.

Whether this will see the light is another matter.The plans are not due to start until 2017
and will have to go through a public consultion.On top of that it will run through the Chilterns,prime Middle England territory.

If the Tories win the election they maintain that the integration of the proposed rail network with Heathrow will be crucial in maximising the economic benefits of high-speed rail.

More importantlt though they want it to be priavtely funded which may well scupper any chance of this evergoing ahead.

A return to British Rail

I hope that the announcement this morning of the government's decision to take the East coast train line back under its control could herald the start of a gradual re nationalisation of the lines.

Labour's decision not to return the trains to the public sector was a big mistake when they came to power.

We now have a situation where companies have bid far too much for the current round of franchises,putting all their efforts in collecting revenue and starving the infrastructure of much needed investment.

National Express' decision to overbid for the lucrative East Coast line forced it to promise to pay £2b over eight years,a decision which has resulted in the resignation of its chief executive and facing a take over bid from First.

This is not the way to run our transport infrastructure

Osborne ups the anti on the green budget

A green theme to the blog this morning.

According to George Osborne

The Labour plan announced today is like giving people a grant to buy an internal combustion engine, without bothering to set up any petrol stations.

Hot on the heels of the government's announcements on electric cars,shadow chancellor George Osborne has been telling the country what green issues a Conservative chancellor would tackle if he was standing at the dispatch box next week.

The main stay appears to be a grant of £6,500 for every home to increase energy efficiency which would be paid for in the resultant fuel bill savings.

As a response to the electric car news,he committs the Tories to a the creation of a national recharging network for electric vehicles.

But also something that we are not hearing from Labour,investment in public transport.

A Tory governmnet would start work on plans for a new high speed rail network initially between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds which would be funded through a public-private partnership to enable construction to begin as soon as possible.

Lib Dems want road pricing

The Liberal Democrats have unveiled their radical plans for transport this afternoon.

Nick Clegg called the plan a radical alternative for transport policy in the 21st century.

The main impetus is a move towards that sacred and poisoned chalice of road pricing.There would be cuts in fuel and vehicle excise duty which would be paid for by direct road pricing of motorways and major trunk roads.

The review also looks at railways with the party saying that companies should be given longer franchises in order to encourage investment.The plans would also see domesticair travel given a surcharge to encourage a move to the railways which would be totally electrified by 2050 and more high speed links established.

Lib Dem transport spokesman Norman Baker said of the proposals

With Labour's 30 year plan for the railways stopping inexplicably in 2014 and no firm proposals from the Conservatives, we are the only party with concrete proposals to build a transport system fit for the 21st century.
"Motorists and passengers are getting a raw deal under Labour. We are turning into cattle truck Britain, with rail services overcrowded and congestion growing on the roads, as any commuter will tell you.
"Motorway and trunk road pricing will cost the average motorist no more but the costs will be honest and upfront and rural motorists who have to rely on their cars will save money

Newsnight to run the green debate

I don't suppose for one moment they did look at my blog ,but tonight's Newsnight agenda looks remarkably similar to my post earlier this morning.Surely a coincidence?

Are green taxes dead?
Are green taxes a luxury we can no longer afford? In the face of an
economic downturn, should society be ditching the green agenda or
sticking with it?
Lines of lorries are clogging the country's main arteries today in
protest over the rising cost of fuel, their drivers demanding the
government scrap the planned 2p rise in fuel tax.
At the same time the Chancellor Alistair Darling is facing the fury of
Labour MPs over his plans to increase road taxes on older, more
polluting vehicles. He'll be addressing their concerns in a meeting next
week.
With the cost of fuel, travel and food rising - and house prices falling
- people are feeling a big squeeze. So, should the government ease the
pain in the short-term by scrapping the green agenda, or is it more
important to protect the planet for our grandchildren?