Binsted Park represents "the vanishing England of my youth", said artist Michael Wishart, in his book 'High Diver'. Beloved of Laurie Lee in his day and of thousands today: is this landscape doomed because Highways England's consultants WSP are not working to the nation's real long term priorities?
SHORT VERSION OF BLOG ISSUED AS PRESS RELEASE 6.8.18.
THE BLOG WILL BE PUBLISHED IN FULL LATER THIS WEEK.
The environmental assets of England are facing RISK: Roads Investment Strategy Kill. “RIS” as executed by Highways England's often favoured consultants WSP is shaping up as a damaging series of cavalierly evidenced, regressive decisions. The culture remains stuck in a 1970s predict-and-provide road transport silo mentality. The HE-advised-by-WSP approach increases road traffic and disregards quality of life. Is this what today's nation really wants to be our vision of progress?
The Arundel Bypass Preferred Route 5A decision proposes severe and irreparable damage to environment, cultural heritage and rural communities, at a cost of £250M. This is on an inadequate business case, now only a hair's breadth above 'Low' (Benefit-Cost Ratio 1.51) and likely to sink further as details are specified. This despite the availability of better-value, cheaper, much less damaging options to ease traffic flow (Option 1 / modified Purple).
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REST TO FOLLOW