JONATHON PORRITT SUPPORTS ANTI BNRR CAMPAIGN

Residents fighting the controversial Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR) have received a huge boost. Jonathon Porritt the UK’s leading environmentalist is throwing his weight behind their campaign. He is supporting the fund raising campaign by the Alliance Against BNRR [1] which wishes to launch a new appeal in their High Court battle against the toll road.

After hearing the Alliance’s analysis of the BNRR’s transport and environmental impacts [2], he was happy to lend his name to their campaign. The Alliance is currently involved in a long drawn out legal battle with the government, which refuses to release the secret contract with the toll road company which may have led to an illegal decision to give the road the go ahead. The Alliance is today launching a fund raising campaign to pay for their appeal [3]. They are hoping that the Appeal Court judges will quash John Prescott’s decision to approve the BNRR. 

Jonathon Porritt said

"When I examined the disturbing facts behind the BNRR, I was only too happy to support the Alliance’s fund raising campaign. A road that destroys 27 miles of green belt and two nature sites; yet does not properly achieve its transport objectives should not be built. I hope the Alliance raise enough money to get this case heard by the Appeal Court".

Charles Bradshaw-Smith, Chair Alliance Against BNRR said

"On the day we launch our fund raising campaign, it is a tremendous boost for us to have Jonathan lending his name to our tireless battle to get the nonsensical BNRR stopped. His credibility will assist us in attracting new supporters and thereby fight on to the Appeal Court. The day the BNRR is scrapped is coming ever closer now."

The campaign can be supported by sending cheques, payable to "Alliance Against BNRR", to: The Alliance Treasurer, Hazel Barnes, 54 Highfields Road, Chasetown, Staffs, WS7 8QU.

Notes

1. The Alliance Against The BNRR is a coalition of resident’s organisations along the route of the BNRR whose aim is to stop the motorway being built. The Alliance has wide spread support and has raised funds for its legal challenge from residents, 11 councils and well-known environmental organisations.

2. The 27-mile BNRR (the UK’s first private toll road) is the largest and most damaging new road in the country. The Contract to build the road was signed in 1992 - before the Public Inquiry began. At the Pubic Inquiry, the weight of opposing evidence ensured that the inquiry was the longest in history. 27 miles of Green Belt would be destroyed; two Sites of Special Scientific Interest damaged; local jobs would be risked; motorists would join yet longer traffic queues as the West Midlands conurbation sees increased congestion; and another opportunity to solve the region’s traffic problems would be wasted by national andlocal leaders.

3. The Alliance was granted leave to appeal despite losing its quashingorder against the BNRR Line Orders. The Alliance’s legal team is very confident of its chances in the Appeal Court. In his High Court judgement, Justice Latham agreed that the DoT had a duty to disclose the Concession Agreement and by not doing so the public were prejudiced at the Public Inquiry. Furthermore, he stated that it is illegal for John Prescott to consider cancellation charges hidden in the secret Concession Agreement between the Government and Midland Expressway.

Contacts:

Charles Bradshaw-Smith (0836 647585)
Gerald Kells (01922 636601)
Richard Stein (Lawyer) of Leigh, Day & Co (0171 650 1200)