The environmental group who have made the judicial review legal challenge against the secretary of state’s development consent order to approve the scheme to dual the A66 has revealed themselves today.
Transport Action Network has lodged the challenge against the granting of a development consent order for the scheme to upgrade the A66 between Penrith and Scotchcorner including the new Kemplay Roundabout underpass and works on junction 40.
Transport Action Network said it believed the Secretary of State’s decision was flawed.
The group filed its claim with the High Court that will now require the department for Transport will file a defence and the court will then decide whether to grant permission to proceed.
If the high court grant permission for the judicial review a full court hearing will take place to consider the future of the A66 upgrade.
The groups legal challenge has seen a short statement of support issued by Friends of The Lake District today who said “ Our friends at the Transport Action Network are bringing a legal challenge against the recent decision to widen the A66. The road scheme will damage sensitive habitats, and increase carbon emissions.” Both groups had opposed the A66 upgrade during the consultation period.
The organisation said they have appointed solicitors are Leigh Day who they have used for previous legal challenges, and the groups barristers specialise in climate and nature cases.
The group claims the £1.5 billion A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project represents very poor value for money as had also been raised by the Department for Transport after costs increased ahead of the Secretary of State granting the development consent order.
Chris Todd, Transport Action Network founder and director, said:
“The £1.5 billion A66 Northern Trans-Pennine represents very poor value for money and will cause great harm to important landscapes and wildlife. At a time when we are experiencing more flooding due to climate change, it will drive up carbon emissions by 2.7 million tonnes. By encouraging more HGVs it will also make the existing parts of the A66 that are already dualled more dangerous.
“We believe the Secretary of State has not considered these issues properly, gambling away £1.5bn of taxpayers’ money in the process. National Highways should instead be implementing cheaper and quicker safety measures on this road, for a fraction of the cost and without harming the environment or taking us backwards on climate.”
In a statement last week National Highways said:
“At this stage it is too early to say how much of an impact the legal challenge will have on our programme and start of work.”
“We are disappointed about the legal challenge as we believe our proposals will provide much needed improved safety and reliability for drivers and businesses that use this vitally important route every day, while also delivering a boost to the regional economy. “
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