Take Action: Help Stop the A38 Expansion and Fund Sustainable Transport!
After years of campaigning, the Government is finally reviewing the destructive A38 Derby Junctions road scheme.
The new Labour Government is reviewing infrastructure spending, and many road schemes have already been cancelled. The A38 scheme is still under consideration—your voice can make a difference!
Now is the time to act. Write to your political representatives and urge them to cancel this harmful project and reallocate funding to sustainable transport solutions.
Write to Your Representatives
Tips for Writing
We’ve provided an example letter and key points to help you.
Personalise your email or letter—politicians are more likely to respond to messages that reflect your own views and experiences.
Share why this issue matters to you personally; your story can make a powerful impact.
Be polite and respectful. Many politicians have been willing to engage with us and discuss our concerns, even when we don’t agree on everything.
Your voice matters—let it be heard!
Who to write to?
Heidi Alexander MP, The Secretary of State for Transport
heidi.alexander.mp@parliament.uk and dftcorrespondence@dft.gov.uk
Heidi is a key decision maker in the infrastructure review and future investment in UK transport infrastructure.
Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for the Future of Roads
lilian.greenwood.mp@parliament.uk
Catherine Atkinson MP for Derby North
Catherine Atkinson MP of Derby North is on the Transport Select Committee and is an advocate of railway investment, especially as Derby will be home to Great British railway HQ and the railway industry is a big part of Derby’s economy. She is also committed to action on the climate crisis.
catherine.atkinson.mp@parliament.uk
Clare Ward, East Midlands Mayor
The East Midlands Mayor has influence on how the transport networks in the East Midlands are invested in. Please ask her to prioritise public transport and active travel over polluting and destructive road schemes.
Other local MPs
Find your local MP via https://www.writetothem.com/
https://democracy.derbyshire.gov.uk/mgMemberIndexMP.aspx?bcr=1
Key points to help you write
The infrastructure review is a vital opportunity to save £15 billion nationally by cancelling outdated and destructive road schemes like the A38 Derby Junctions. Redirecting this funding to sustainable transport, such as rail and public transport, would support national decarbonisation goals, create jobs, and deliver greater economic and social benefits.
The A38 scheme will worsen congestion and increase traffic. Expanding roads induces demand, leading to more car-dependent developments and higher traffic levels over time. Planning documents show an increase in traffic if the scheme is completed.
More car dependent housing with no extra doctors, schools, dentists etc. The previous Government who approved the scheme and the old Conservative city council administration who supported it, said the main purpose of the A38 expansion is to release more land near the A38 around Derby for “a minimum of 11,000 developments.”. People in Mickleover and Mackworth are already struggling from the pressure on local services and infrastructure due poorly planned house building with no sustainable transport investment. The A38 expansion will lead to even more of this. There is no mention of extra doctors, schools etc. alongside the new developments.
It will significantly increase carbon emissions both through construction and extra traffic, directly undermining the UK's climate targets and worsening the climate crisis. Improved traffic flow will not reduce carbon emissions, this is a false claim. The planning documents show an increase and the first legal challenge was successful due on carbon emission grounds.
Environmental destruction: Thousands of trees will be felled, with fewer replanted, resulting in permanent habitat loss for wildlife. New planting cannot offset this damage.
Air and noise pollution: The scheme will increase NO₂ levels, particularly near sensitive areas like the Royal School for the Deaf and Markeaton Roundabout, and bring higher noise levels to many residential areas.
Exaggerated economic benefits: The claimed benefits rely on outdated data and inflated assumptions. With costs rising due to inflation, the scheme is likely poor value for money.
Four years of severe disruption: Construction will cause long-term traffic chaos, harming residents and businesses. There are no mitigation plans in place.
Loss of homes and land: The compulsory purchase of private properties, gardens, and agricultural land will irreparably harm communities.
Better alternatives exist: Multi-modal transport solutions, such as improved traffic management and rail investments, can alleviate congestion more effectively, with fewer environmental and social costs.
Example letter to personalise
Dear [Recipient's Name],
I am writing to urge you to recommend cancelling the A38 Derby Junctions road scheme (also known as the A38 expansion) along with other out dated road schemes during the ongoing infrastructure review and reallocating the £15 billion of new road scheme funding toward sustainable transport infrastructure instead.
The urgency of the climate crisis demands immediate action to reduce emissions from road transport, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the UK’s carbon emissions. Expanding road capacity only increases car dependency, congestion, and emissions, undermining the UK's decarbonisation goals. Instead, we must invest in sustainable transport solutions that reduce emissions while benefiting local economies.
The A38 scheme is an outdated, costly, and environmentally damaging project. Its goals of reducing congestion could be achieved through alternatives that are less disruptive, more cost-effective, and aligned with the UK’s decarbonisation goals. Unfortunately, National Highways has only proposed road-based solutions, neglecting multi-modal transport approaches that could deliver greater benefits without such significant harm.
The scheme was estimated to cost taxpayers over £250 million, based on outdated 2019 estimates, with actual costs likely to be far higher due to inflation, treasury guidance changes and increased construction expenses. These funds could instead support sustainable transport projects, such as rail infrastructure and freight electrification, which would create more jobs. Investment in rail, particularly, would benefit Derby’s local economy, which rely on a thriving rail supply chain.
Cancelling the A38 scheme would avoid devastating impacts on the environment and local community, including:
The destruction of wildlife habitats, public green spaces, private gardens, farmland and homes.
Increased NO2 emissions around areas like Markeaton Roundabout, affecting local residents’ health including residents at the Royal School of the Deaf.
Over four years of severe traffic disruptions during construction.
A smaller, less harmful form of road works could still alleviate congestion by improving traffic flow without increasing road capacity. Measures like better traffic signalling, road signs, or pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure that doesn’t require using traffic light crossings could be implemented more quickly and at a fraction of the cost.
The new Labour Government has already cancelled several harmful road schemes as part of its infrastructure review. Redirecting funds from roads like the £9–10 billion Lower Thames Crossing to sustainable transport infrastructure would align with the Government’s priorities, benefit both the national and local economy, and help achieve important climate goals.
I urge you to recommend cancelling the A38 expansion and reallocating funds to sustainable transport that supports growth in Derby and across the UK. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]