The EMCCA Climate Coalition coordinated by Friends of the Earth is an informal group consisting of a wide range of groups and individuals from Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. They have been monitoring the EMCCA and submitting proposals to the Mayor for better transport and energy policies.
The EMCCA Climate Coalition has urged the EMCCA Mayor to reconsider how transport funding is spent in the East Midlands. There are 6 major road projects that are currently being planned in the EMCCA region, which are estimated to cost at least £1.2bn to deliver.
Campaigners from across the region urge the East Midlands Mayor to use the recently announced £2 billion funding for transport to strengthen rail and bus links and improve walking and cycling rather than spending it on damaging new roads.
The Mayor, Claire Ward, has already confirmed some of the money will be spent on new road projects. The EMCCA Climate Coalition claims that 6 new planned roads for the region costing at least £1.2 billion are not the best solution to solve congestion or open up areas for development. They argue that it would be a more efficient and effective use of the £1.2 billion to spend on a range of travel projects that can also provide better health, reduce health/transport inequalities and better support her travel and inclusive growth goals. Projects proposed by the group include funding for better rural bus service, ensuring new developments are not car-dependent and making streets safer and more people-friendly.
In a report sent to Mayor Claire and her transport team, the group provide ballpark costings for the 11 alternative projects, evidence of benefits and examples of best practice, many from around the region. These include:
- Hourly buses to every village in the East Midlands:
- Better planning
- Public realm improvements
- School Streets
- Public control of buses
The ballpark costings developed by the group suggest the 11 schemes could be delivered across all areas of the East Midlands for a total of around £0.5-0.6 billion, much less than the 6 road projects.