[Hardy-l] Two Mile Coppice

[Patrick Roper]

Where I live near Hastings there has been a relief road war for many years with a similar (and unresolved) countryside-versus-convenience debate going on.  I think the people who argue for the relief road are well aware of the concept that new roads only increase traffic problems, but many say it is predictability rather than speed they are after – they want to know that they can allow half an hour for their journey and not have to leave two hours earlier in case there is a jam.  New roads are often said to address this problem.

 

However, I am sure the massive housing and infrastructure projects that are planned for south east and southern England have employment creation as a major driver – they use large quantities of builders, planners, engineers, ecologists and those who make things to furnish the three million houses (or whatever it is) that are proposed.  And this, of course, suits governments in these post-manufacturing days.  I wonder if the relief road between Dorchester and Weymouth is the thin end of a wedge that will ultimately gobble up more Dorset countryside under concrete, bricks and mortar because access has been ‘improved’.  Here in Sussex there are now innumerable plans to build on greenfield farmland that has hitherto been sacrosanct and the mantra always is that there are homeless people all over the place looking for affordable houses to buy.  In our village many houses have been built in the last twenty years and the vast majority are filled by wealthy middle class newcomers that have moved out of London and larger towns, though I suppose in fairness this does create less expensive housing opportunities within those towns.

 

It seems we are all destined to live in a colossal Greater London stretching from Dorset to Norfolk and around the coast bringing to its ultimate conclusion William Cobbett’s concept of the Great Wen.  Or maybe the Great When.

 

Patrick Roper

 

From: Dr Tony Fincham [mailto:wessex.heights at virgin.net] 
Sent: 27 October 2008 06:56
To: hardy-l at coyote.csusm.edu
Subject: Re: [Hardy-l] Two Mile Coppice

 

Ronald,

 

Sadly there is no evidence to support the contention that building new roads gets people to their destinations faster -

all is does is increase expectations & demand - within a short period of time the increased demand nullifys any potential

benefit from the new road. You are merely move the jam further down the road - Weymouth will become even more snarled

up than it is now. 

 

Also, it is hard to justify the permanent destruction of ancient landscape for the convenience at what at best must be a very

temporary form of transport.

 

I regularly use the train service between Dorchester & Weymouth - it is excellent; I know many people who use the buses

all the time without trouble.

 

Tony Fincham.

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