The new government has cancelled several road schemes, including the controversial Stonehenge project, to address a public spending deficit left by the previous Government. This is a good step, and we hope it leads to more focus on sustainable transport projects instead.

Our case against the polluting and destructive A38 expansion is in court today.

After a successful legal challenge in 2021, we believe the transport minister acted unlawfully again by approving the scheme with an outdated economic assessment.

In a collective effort to draw attention to the threatened 300-year-old oak tree, local residents and professional artists gathered to draw attention to what the proposed A38 road expansion will destroy.

On Wednesday the 20th Dec 2023 at The Royal Courts of Justice, Mrs Justice Jefford granted the case permission to go to trial after hearing arguments from both Richard Buxton Solicitors representing the Stop the A38 Expansion campaign group and the defendants, the Department for Transport and National Highways.

Evidence shows that investment in roads does not always increase economic activity or spreads opportunity across the UK or that these benefits could not be achieved by other means.

Road investment is not the best way to support local economies, and the evidence about the effect of road schemes on economic growth is less strong than is sometimes assumed by policy makers.

We have been busy preparing for another legal challenge to stop this polluting, destructive and unnecessary road scheme. Our lawyers sent the pre-action protocol letter outlining five grounds for a legal challenge which the Secretary of State has 12 days to respond to.

News on the A38 expansion and the Government’s attempts to weaken environmental laws and stop future legal challenges.

The latest IPCC report stated that any further delay in global action to cut carbon pollution “will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.” Yet National Highways are trying to claim that Net Zero carbon targets do not apply to their polluting and destructive road building.

A new report by the Green Alliance evidences how at the same time as accelerating the switch to electric vehicles, we need to cut traffic to meet UK climate targets.

Thank you so much to everyone who helped us reach our initial target of £3,500! Our representations were submitted on 26 October 2021. They are now on the Planning Inspectorate website if you wish to read them.

The campaign to stop the A38 expansion is not over yet. Latest news, including our urgent work to provide a submission by 19th October. Lots of useful background information too, including how you can help.

Many people support the A38 expansion because they believe it will solve congestion around the Derby junctions. If the expansion goes ahead, there will be 4 years of road works causing huge disruption, then when it’s complete there will be more traffic than ever.

We shared news of our legal challenge success with local media outlets but they had declined to publish the news … presumably because Highways England and the Department and Transport were not responding to requests for comment from journalists.

Thank you to journalists who chose to report on this.

Highways England's own planning documents show the A38 expansion would emit more CO2 than any current idling traffic. Road traffic reduction is the only sensible solution for congestion and pollution.