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Archived press release

Prescott orders tyne tunnel inquiry

20 September 2002

Today's decision by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott to order a public inquiry into the proposed New Tyne Crossing has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. But this is far from the end of the story.

South Tyneside Friends of the Earth campaigner Bryan Atkinson said:
“This is a victory for common sense and democracy. The arguments for building the Tyne tunnel are riddled with flaws and inaccuracies. These will all be exposed during the public inquiry. The battle doesn’t stop here”.

The concerns that have prompted Mr Prescott to call a public inquiry include:

• There will be huge increases in traffic levels, not just on the A19 river crossing, but also on adjoining roads;
• The promoters cannot give any accurate estimate of the number of jobs that will be created;
• The promoters admit that public transport alternatives were not properly considered, even though the area has low car ownership;
• The proposal conflicts with many aspects of Government policy, as laid down in the 1998 White Papers on transport and roads, published by Mr Prescott himself;
• What will happen to thousands of tonnes of potentially contaminated material to be dredged from the river?
  

Full details of Friends of the Earth’s objections to the proposed Tyne Crossing are available on request.

Friends of the Earth Regional Campaigns Co-ordinator Tim Sander said:
“Calling a public inquiry means we have won an important battle, but not the war. The New Tyne Crossing is not the answer to the area’s traffic and employment problems. We won’t stop the campaign until the promoters are told to go back to the drawing board and come up with real solutions to Tyneside’s problems.”

For further information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

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