Petition to Scrap the A38 Derby Junctions Scheme

Petition delivered to Louise Haigh on 7th November

Rt Hon Louise Haigh, Secretary of State for Transport

Please find enclosed a petition from Derby residents regarding the planned expansion of the A38 road through Derby.

The petition is addressed to our local MP (Catherine Atkinson) and the Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Louise Haigh.

We met with Catherine Atkinson MP (Derby North) on Saturday 19th October and presented the petition to her in person.

Scrap the A38 Derby Junctions Scheme

To: Catherine Atkinson MP and Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh

We, the undersigned residents of Derby, urgently call on you to scrap the A38 Derby Junctions scheme. This project is not only a threat to our environment and community but also represents a wasteful and outdated use of public funds at a time when the government faces significant financial challenges.

The A38 Derby Junctions scheme is set to cost an estimated £250 million—money that could be far better spent addressing the UK's £20 billion budget deficit and investing in much-needed public transport infrastructure. The economic justification for this scheme is deeply flawed, relying on an outdated benefit-cost ratio (BCR) that has not been updated to reflect current economic conditions or environmental priorities. Independent analysis suggests that the BCR for this scheme could now fall below 2, which would render it poor value for money according to government investment standards. Despite this, the government has chosen to push forward with the scheme, prioritising outdated economic assessments over the wellbeing of Derby’s residents and environment.

At a time when the government is committed to cutting carbon emissions and meeting legally binding climate targets, it is indefensible to push forward with a road expansion scheme that will increase traffic, pollution, and carbon output. The A38 expansion will not only lead to the destruction of 11.38 hectares of woodland, with only 6.40 hectares being replanted, but it will also lock Derby into a car-dependent future at a time when we urgently need to be investing in sustainable, low-carbon transport solutions.

The government has pledged to invest in public transport as part of its strategy to reduce carbon emissions and create a more sustainable economy. Scrapping the A38 Derby Junctions scheme would free up significant funds that could be redirected towards improving public transport in Derby, reducing traffic congestion, and providing affordable, sustainable alternatives to car travel. This would not only benefit our environment and public health but also contribute to the long-term economic resilience of our city.

We call on you, Catherine Atkinson and Louise Haigh, to take a stand against this wasteful and environmentally destructive scheme. We urge you to ensure that public funds are used wisely, investing in the future of Derby and the UK as a whole by supporting sustainable transport solutions that align with our climate commitments.

Please scrap the A38 Derby Junctions scheme and redirect these resources towards projects that will truly benefit Derby, our environment, and our economy.

Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.