Who we are -and what do we do?
This website is dedicated to all the ordinary people of North Wales who believe that any proposals make the A494/A55 highway into a full-blown motorway are ill-considered and dangerous at a time of widespread concern for a sustainable future and risks to health and environment caused by over-dependence on road transport.
In April 2006 residents of Aston, Deeside Flintshire, first became aware of extensive plans by Transport Wales to augment local roads in a way that would, ultimately, drive a high-speed superhighway through a thriving and attractive part of North Wales.
Local communities quickly reacted to the threat. Today, they are known as the "Aston Hill Says NO!" coalition. This informal group of ordinary folk, supported by councillors and a remarkable spread of politicians, have been united in their opposition to anything that would make the A494 Queensferry to Ewloe and connected dual carriageways into a virtual "motorway".
The TW proposals would have made our local road, effectively eleven lanes wide in parts -and would have triggered the lifting of the existing 50mph speed constraint.
We believe, that at a time of increasing concern for sustainability and effects of climate change, there can be no justification constructing yet more massive highways. Any short-term relieve would be lost as more traffic was induced and we would all pay the price of disruption and pollution in a lovely part of semi-rural Britain.
From the outset, Transport Wales has admitted that their current proposals will INCREASE CO2 emissions by 14% -yet they still refer to them as an "Improvement".
Thousands of concerned folk disagree. Along the A494/A55 corridor, groups of like-minded residents are now coming together with one aim; to bring about a TRANSPARENT, comprehensive review of ALL the transport options for North Wales.
Until that time, Transport Wales is assured of concerted local opposition to any large-scale development of the existing A494/A55 road scheme.
What are the issues?
By employing a strategy of promoting sections of linked schemes as individual "improvements", Transport Wales conceals the true extent of its plans. It is seen by many as an attempt to impose, what is effectively a "motorway", on the whole of the A494/A55 North Wales trunk road.
In the guise of the "Welsh Assembly Government", officials have formulated extensive proposals that pay scant regard to communities along the route. Many residents consider that they have been denied proper consultation and that their basic human rights have been compromised.
There has been little discussion or consultation about the "big-picture" objectives -or any realistic projection of future needs or appraisal of changes in public attitudes to alternative transport options.
Despite concerns that the proposed work would bring the disruptive effects of heavy traffic and air-pollution close to several sensitive areas -including schools, retirement homes and a hospital- officials have consistently refused to submit their proposals to a human, "Health Impact Assessment" under the auspices of health professionals.
Correspondence obtained by objectors under new "Freedom Of Information" and released at the month-long Public Inquiry, showed that The Office Of The Chief Medical Officer was effectively influenced by Transport Wales in respect of clinical appraisals and possible implications for other highway schemes being planned for Wales.
Data released in January 2008 by the Department for Transport in respect of pitifully under-estimates for future oil price, suggests that the premise of likely traffic growth used to justify the scheme is fundamentally flawed.
What have the objectors achieved so far?
Concerns about the scale and nature of the proposals by North Wales Assembly Members and over 2,300 individual letters of objection resulted in an extensive Local Public Inquiry chaired by an independent professional Inspector of national reputation & standing.
The inspector's findings and recommendations and the consequent decision by the Assembly Transport Minister, were published 26 March 2008.
At the highest levels of the Welsh Assembly Government there is now the realisation that further augmentation of road transport in Wales is a political "hot-topic" -and one that unless issues of justification, consultation and transparency are addressed is one that will blight the whole ethos of the Assembly.
What sort of support have we experienced from established politicians?
Thanks to the dedicated support of a handful of local councillors, we have invited participation and initiative from various agencies of our Local Authority. We have found encouraging enthusiasm for the "cause for reason", from local and national politicians and have been able to watch them work together in a collaborative, non-confrontational manner without party-specific agenda or bias.
How often and where do we meet?
With the exception of the times when considering very local issues, our "group" does not meet on a regular basis. From the outset, social networking and collaboration by regular email have been the mainstays of sustaining an effective campaign.
How do we gain campaign awareness and retain public interest?
We have developed our own, simple website. It is hosted by our chums at "google" as a free community resource -as is available to anyone. This is it.
We foster support both "group" and individual, private action and then share all that we learn.
We have encouraged dozens of ordinary people to send letters to the press and appear on radio/TV. We have made our own YouTube commentaries and held light-hearted (if noisy!) public demonstrations.
Our campaign has featured on radio stations throughout Wales, UK and North America. The results of our efforts to make Health Impact Assessment (HIA) an implicit feature of all proposals such as this have been the subject of a government sponsored, Downing Street petition and are at the present being closely followed as far afield as Australia/New Zealand.
The health objectives of our campaign have been been supported by local GPs and Pharmacists, and clinical experts including BMA (Wales) and world-renowned UK Royal Commissioner, Prof Stephen Holgate.
We have an extensive new-media archive of interviews with politicians, councillors and dozens of ordinary folk. We have audio/video records made at numerous meetings -including a complete record of the Local Public Inquiry. All this material will be compiled and placed on deposit for future reference and historical interest.
Future plans?
Similar "motorway" schemes -connecting westwards to the present- are planned for North Wales roads. Residents, at this moment are preparing to foster vigorous opposition to all of them. We are willing to pass on the benefit of our experiences with all who share our concerns.
Since mid 2006, we have learned much about how to concert a lawful opposition to the things we see a harmful to ourselves and our Nation.
We remain confident and optimistic that our endeavours DO make a difference!
