Government’s next Road Investment Strategy should steer away from building new highways and focus instead on smaller improvements, according to an alliance of 17 environmental stakeholders.

 

The group, led by the Campaign for Better Transport, published a report setting out its priorities for ‘RIS2’ last week, which calls for funding to be prioritised for a ‘green retrofit’ of the strategic network. The Road Investment Strategy for 2020-2025 is currently in the early stages of development by the Department for Transport.

 

According to the new report, the strategy should concentrate on improving the maintenance and safety of the existing network and include measures to prepare for low carbon vehicles, protect health and safeguard the environment.

 

“The Government’s Road Investment Strategy needs to focus on how existing roads can be improved, not on building new road capacity,” commented Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Stephen Joseph.

 

He added: “With a focus on green retrofit and better integration with the rest of the transport network, Highways England can reduce the impact of roads to benefit people and the environment alike.” 

 

Action to reduce harmful air pollution is urged by the report including reducing speed limits in highly polluted areas, investing in emissions absorbing road surfacing and barriers and accelerating the rollout of an electric vehicle fast charging network. It also calls for increased tree planting to cut pollution and improve flood protection and better provision for walkers, cyclists and bus passengers.

 

Environmental law firm Client Earth’s clean air lawyer Anna Heslop said: “Road transport is the main contributor to illegal and harmful levels of air pollution in our towns and cities. Tackling this serious public health issue should be at the heart of the Government's Road Investment Strategy.”

 

The report also demands that the new strategy includes stronger protection for valuable landscapes including National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as well as heritage sites.

 

It should also feature continued and enhanced designated funding for biodiversity, with green bridges urged to connect wildlife areas across motorways and trunk roads, the report urges.

 

Highways England chief executive Jim O'Sullivan said: “We have worked well with the environmental bodies during our current programme and look forward to co-operating with them in the future. The economic case for improving our strategic roads is compelling; they are essential in moving people, materials and goods around the country.

“Both new roads and the existing network need to be constructed in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and we invest hundreds of millions of pounds addressing the impacts of our work; this includes tackling noise, improving air quality and building and installing new footpaths and access for cyclists.
 
“This will continue to be an important factor as we work with the Government and environmental bodies to shape the second Roads Investment Strategy for 2020-25.”

 

 

(Photo: Highways England)