Action Briefing Apr 2003 - May 2003
	The Newsletter of Birmingham Friends of the Earth

West Midlands News

Multi Modal Studies and the Future of Planning

The latest Multi Modal Study (MMS) to complete its final consultation in the region covers movements between the East and West Midlands. This has been dominated by a road widening agenda, continuing the trends set by other studies in the two regions and the general lack of faith in the rail industry to deliver real alternatives. As a result, we are fighting road widening proposals on both the M42 and A38 corridors along with road junction improvements across the study area.

The MMS's tendency to view only long distance journeys as strategic is working against us. Local journeys and the importance of a pleasant local area to walk, cycle or catch a bus have been ignored or lumped together as 'local transport plans'. On April 1st Transport Secretary Alistair Darling announced under the banner "package of improvements to tackle noise, congestion and safety" a £700 million package of new road building, including £57m for improving the A45/A46 toll bar end junction southeast of Coventry to link to Coventry Airport (more public money to subsidise the aviation sector), and £40m for the A5 / A483 route from Shrewsbury to Chester.

At the same time we've been invited to the implementation of the Midman study and we're still waiting for the outcome of the ODPM’s Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) analysis.

As part of the planning system review, the regional level is to have even greater weight as they become Regional Spatial Strategies. Our RPG may well become the RSS for the region, thereby gaining statutory status, overseeing the county structure plans and imposing housing figures, road schemes and other land uses from on high. This will in turn lead to a complete review of draft local plans as part of the community strategy. Structure plans will be replaced by sub-regional plans as part of the RSS.

If you want more information on the future of planning and our rights under the new system, have a chat with the Regional Office or visit: www.foe.co.uk/resource/local/planning/

Chris Crean