We've received a response to our recent letter to Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh.
The letter came from an internal team within the Department for Transport (DfT): the Roads and Projects Infrastructure Delivery Directorate.
The key points from our perspective are as follows:
We actually received a timely reply! Under the previous government, the DfT was painfully slow to respond, if at all. Constant cabinet reshuffles meant that the Secretary of State or Minister had already moved on, making it easy to dismiss our letter and avoid addressing the points raised.
It confirms the importance of the ongoing infrastructure spending review. This means that all the actions we have encouraged you to take recently are exactly what is needed. It's an internal review, so contacting our elected representatives is the only way the public can be heard.
There is positive language. The letter mentions "local people", the needs of "communities", and talks of "cleaner" transport at its core. Previously, the focus has been almost exclusively on the economic benefits, less about the human, or environmental impact. We see this different tone as progress.
There are no specifics regarding the Port of Liverpool Access Road and National Highways is obviously mentioned, but, all in all, this is welcome. Most importantly, it is proof that the road proposal we are fighting is on the radar of the right people.
We had already taken their advice and requested a meeting with the Transport Secretary and/or Future of Roads Minister via our MPs and Metro Mayor and will let you know if this comes to pass.
You can read the letter in full, below:
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