Letter from Tom Levitt
March 2004

Letter from Tom Levitt (copy available as pdf file), he expects construction to commence in the financial year beginning April 2006.

Reply from the Highways Agency
2nd March 2004

The Highways Agency have replied to my e-mail, copy of letter attached as a pdf file. It suggests that the timetable has indeed been extended. The Highways Agency web site continues to contain outdated information.

Are we being Misled?
24th February 2004

Since I contacted the Highways Agency and wrote to the Glossop Chronicle and Tom Levitt just over a week ago, they have miraculously decided to update the Bypass web page after almost one year. However, they moved the web address (without a link to the new page) and created a new page with outdated information! Have a look at the new page online and a pdf copy of the page (24th February 2004). As you will see, the web site has been populated with outdated information from 2001. Is this not bizarre and odd considering it is meant to be an active project? There is no information on a timetable, news, or progress reports.

Below is a copy of an e-mail sent to the Highways Agency on the 15th February. I have yet to receive a reply to my questions in the last paragraph.

Thank you for your letter of 10th February (copy attached). I am concerned at what seems to be very slow progress in the A57/A628 bypass scheme. I am also surprised at the lengthy timetable that you outline. We were led to believe by Government that this was an essential bypass and that there was recognition of the unacceptable level of congestion. It was indicated that traffic would be using the road by 2007? Your letter suggests that if all proceeds smoothly then we will be fortunate if construction starts in 2007?

Tom Levitt is quoted as saying that "I hope that the overwhelming support of the project will avoid the necessity for the sort of public inquiry which often accompanies a project of this size. This will cut down the time required for the project considerably. With a fair wind, construction could start in 2004 and traffic would be using the road by 2007.

Also, after a visit to the area early last year, the Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling was quoted as saying "I visited the area last week. It was perfectly obvious to me that the level of congestion in those small towns was completely unacceptable. I am very glad that many of the environmental agencies recognise that, notwithstanding the fact that this is an area of some sensitivity, a bypass round those three towns [Tintwistle, Mottram, Hollingworth] is absolutely essential."

It is interesting to note the progress of other schemes on the TPI Scheme? Could you outline what resources (manpower/budget) is being made available in the preparation of the Draft Orders for the A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass relative to other TPI Schemes? Also, what determines the timetable of TPI schemes?

I look forward to your reply.

Road to Nowhere!
14th February 2004

Are we to be let down once again with lame promises concerning the A57/A628 Mottram-Tintwistle Bypass? Well the Government did make the announcement of funding on 1st April 2003, and I suspect we, the residents of the area, are once again being taken for fools.

Tom Levitt is quoted as saying that "I hope that the overwhelming support of the project will avoid the necessity for the sort of public inquiry which often accompanies a project of this size. This will cut down the time required for the project considerably. With a fair wind, construction could start in 2004 and traffic would be using the road by 2007." Link to web page and pdf copy of page (14th February 2004).

This was on the highways Agency web site in September 2001: http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/area/10/works/mottram/leaf/sept2001/04.htm#b
"It will then be for the Planning Bodies to decide whether or not to recommend Ministers to include a scheme in their Targeted Programme of Improvements. Once in the programme, we would publish the draft Orders as soon as possible and follow the Statutory processes which could lead to a start of works in 2004/5 with completion by 2006/7. These dates will depend on the outcome of any possible Public Inquiry held by an independent inspector who will report to the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. He will decide whether the Orders are to be confirmed and, if so, when the bypass can be built."

The following is an e-mail I received from Tom Levitt on 29th January 2003:
There has been no progress as such, although the meeting with David Jamieson was very positive. We still expect construction to start in 2005 with first use in 2007. Hopefully a preferred contractor will be on board his year and pre-construction work (moving electricity lines etc) will take place early 2004.

I visited the Bypass Home Page on the Highways Agency web page when it was launched last year. I visited it again this week and there has been no update, unlike the majority of other schemes on the Highways Agency web site. Have a look at the Highways Agency web site (pdf copy of the page, 14th February 2004) and compare the progress of this scheme to others that were announced before and after 1st April 2003. Even more suspicious is the fact that the contact e-mail address has not worked since the page was launched. Here is what you get back if you try and use the e-mail on the Highways Agency web page:

I'm sorry to have to inform you that the message returned
below could not be delivered to one or more destinations.
For further assistance, please send mail to <postmaster>
If you do so, please include this problem report. You can
delete your own text from the message returned below.
The Postfix program
<a57a628mottramtintwistlebypass@highways.gsi.co.uk>: Name service error for
name=highways.gsi.co.uk type=MX: Host not found, try again

I wrote to Tom Levitt on the 8th November and again on the 25th January enquiring about the lack of progress but have not yet received a response.

I finally decided to write to the Highways Agency, and I received a reply last week. It now appears that there are several obstacles to be overcome, with a much delayed timetable than we were all led to believe, and that construction may not start until 2007. Here is a pdf copy of the letter. The timetable continues to slip.....

I have certainly not seen any work/activity on the Bypass, have you? I still have to endure the traffic congestion every morning and evening. Our elected representatives continue to woo us with new housing developments and projects such as the redevelopment of the Wren Nest Mill. These programmes can only exacerbate the traffic problem. The traffic congestion is making all our lives a misery. We can not wait until 2010 for this road to open!

Maybe it is time to question our elected representatives. We have had broken promises and delays. I want to see action not cheap promises, how about you?