In the UK, transport accounts for about 25 per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions, almost all from fossil fuels, particularly oil. Despite that fact and the overwhelming weight of evidence of the contribution of CO2 from vehicle transport emissions to climate chaos the Department for Transport have announced its intention to widen the M1 from Leicester to Leeds (junctions 21 - 42) to 4 lanes in both directions. The proposed works in the East Midlands for junctions 21 -30 are estimated to cost over £1.9 billion. Road programmes frequently exceed their estimates by a factor of three.

If you are interested in finding out more about this a meeting will shortly be arranged in Nottingham for discussion and information sharing in advance of the public enquiry into the East Midlands section. An Environmental Statement is likely to be issued early in 2006, when the proposals will be presented for comment at public exhibitions. Compulsory land acquisition will be required for the section around Kegworth (to create a bypass and additional infrastructure for increased air traffic out of Nottingham East Midlands airport) and consultation on this phase is currently anticipated during 2006.

For more info see
 http://www.nowideningm1.org.uk/index.html

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/sheffield/2005/09/323896.html

 http://www.roadblock.org.uk.

 http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/motorways/m1/j21_30/