Birmingham Friends of the Earth West Midlands Transport Campaign

Potential Letter To Investors In The BNRR - General

Dear

I am most concerned to hear of your potential involvement in the proposed Birmingham Northern Relief Road. This road if built will not solve any of the transport problems of the West Midlands Conurbation. Nor will it have any predictable effect on journey lengths from the North West to the South East of England. Furthermore it may well escalate in price and not be a good investment for your bank. I and many of my friends will not consider your services for our financial business if you choose to go any further with this scheme. This road is highly un popular. It will result in a poor media image for your company and this in turn will see more and more existing and potential customers ignoring your products and services.

Please can you assure me that you are not prepared to proceed in any way with your involvement in this scheme.

I look forward to hearing positively from you soon.

Yours sincerley

Potential letter from a mortgage holder to the Halifax quoting Halifax environmental statements back at them.

February 2000

Keith Huyton
Central Services
Environmental Manager
Halifax plc
Trinity Road
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX1 2RG

Mr. Huyton

In choosing a mortgage we wished to make sure that your company was committed to some of the same ethical principles as ourselves, and read your environmental statement which has been published on the Internet carefully.

We liked what we read. Imagine our shock when we read that you were considering financial backing of the Birmingham Northern Toll Road ("Relief Road") which will bring even further traffic blight to the Midlands than already exists. This private motorway will cut through some of the last remaining areas of Midlands Green Belt costing an estimated £700 million. It is reviled by local residents, many of whom are even contemplating direct action against the works! Being an affluent area, this is not a normal local course of action, but one brought on by the present government renaging on direct election promises to the press and residents.

The foolish act of backing this scheme seems directly at odds with statements such as those defined in your site as 'Social Responsibility'. For example, to quote:

To review all aspects of our business to identify and quantify adverse environmental impacts.

To ensure that all our staff are fully aware of relevant environmental issues, and of their own roles and responsibilities

I must urge you to withdraw from the joint funding of the scheme as it does not befit your current good character, and risks the loss of a great deal of high street business. If you do go ahead with the funding of this extremely controversial scheme, I will be one of the first to move my mortgage and my savings.

Please keep me informed as to your policy on this issue. I would appreciate a reply.

Yours sincerely