URGENT REQUEST TO OUR SUPPORTERS REGARDING A46 BYPASS SCHEME

Please email National Highways before 12 DECEMBER 2022, asking for the public consultation on the A46 bypass scheme to be extended: A46newarkbypass@nationalhighways.co.uk

Why are we so concerned with this proposal? 

• The proposed half a £billion redevelopment of the A46 bypass is one of the biggest, most expensive and most disruptive projects Newark residents will ever see. It will change the setting of our historic market town forever, with significant adverse effects on residents and our environment. It will result in an increase in traffic around our town.

• PNGS agree that the dreadful traffic congestion on the bypass and in Newark needs to be urgently addressed, we have grave doubts that this massive scheme involving 8-metre-high flyovers is the answer. This proposal is not being provided to bring people to Newark and it’s not being provided to solve the traffic problems in Newark.

• This project is part of a multi £billion national scheme, mainly focussed on reducing journey time for lorries heading to ports – it is not designed to reduce congestion in and around Newark. Significant adverse effects on Newark are documented by National Highways but lie buried within the huge amount of material they have produced on the scheme.

• This project will take three years to complete - layer this over the current economic problems that we are facing nationally, the effect on our town and local businesses could be catastrophic.

• When the scheme is completed, around 3,500 residential properties will experience noise levels above World Health Organization Guidelines for levels (predicted by National Highways), putting our health at risk. We have seen zero proposed mitigation strategies for this danger to human health. 

• Much of the highway is built on a high embankment across the floodplain. The floodplain is crucial to the protection of Newark and settlements downstream. This is not being fully addressed in the current scheme consultation documents. When will full information be made available?  

• It is not clear how the planned A46 interacts with major roads such as the A1 and A17 in this vicinity. What analysis has been undertaken to assess whether the new scheme will improve or improve conditions on these routes? 

• Newark’s greenspaces will be further decimated including 

• Four veteran trees

• 10 notable trees 

• The loss of semi-mature and mature trees present on Winthorpe roundabout which is famous for its established rookery, which is decades old, and must be protected.  

• Permanent habitat loss and fragmentation of habitat at multiple LWSs including Dairy Farm Railway Strip, Great North Road Grasslands, Newark Dismantled Railway, and Newark (Beet Factory) Dismantled Railway. 

• Loss of priority habitat consisting of deciduous woodland, wood pasture, coastal and floodplain grazing marsh, lowland meadow and lowland fen.

• Changes in water levels have the potential to alter how bankside habitats can be used for water vole burrowing and otter resting sites. 

• The loss and disruption of habitat crucial for commuting, foraging, breeding and of protected species including otters, water voles, aquatic invertebrates, barn owls, badgers and bats.

• Night works would directly disturb nocturnal species, including bats, badgers, barn owls, and terrestrial invertebrates due to increased lighting pollution, noise and vibration. 

• Construction activities could also increase the risk of a pollution incident, such as contaminated runoff, spills/leaks of oils and fuels, and increased airborne pollutants. 

What possible justification, in a climate and ecological crisis, could there be for this level of habitat destruction? Increasing the speed and number of lorries as they pass by Newark is no justification whatsoever and is a dreadful perpetuation of the approach that has created the climate and biodiversity crisis. The planned ‘mitigation’ offer is dismally inadequate and ineffective.  

WWF’s Living Planet Report 2022, shows an average 69% decline in global wildlife populations since 1970. The findings are stark. When we are this nature-deficient in the UK, especially in Newark, we must ensure developers are held accountable and do not exuberant the biodiversity crisis. 

What can you do right now?

It is VERY IMPORTANT that the public read the details, ask questions about their concerns and receive full information in answer to those questions. Unfortunately, our experience shows that attending a consultation event and asking questions does not help. The answer often given is ‘send in your questions by email/letter. The written replies received are vague and usually along the lines of ‘we don’t know yet but should have more information in due course after the public consultation is closed.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING CONCERNED RESIDENTS AND ORGANISATIONS CAN DO IS URGENTLY CONTACT NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AND ASK FOR THE PUBLIC CONSULTATION PERIOD TO BE EXTENDED UNTIL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE TO ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO BE ADEQUATELY INFORMED AND CONSULTED.

Please email: A46newarkbypass@nationalhighways.co.uk.

It is the view of Protect Newark’s Green Spaces that the current public consultation is flawed and is taking place before essential information is made available.