The Alliance is calling for the £3.74 billion combined cost of the M1
schemes to be invested in measures that will reduce road transport and
its contribution to climate change, For instance reducing the speed
limit along the M1, road user charging, better investment and
improvement to public transport, moving freight onto our railways,
increasing the cost of motoring and sensible planning to ensure that
people don’t have to travel so far for work and leisure.

A spokesperson for the No Widening M1 Alliance said:
“Road transport contributes 21 per cent of UK CO2 emissions – which
cause global warming, and rises every year as traffic increases. Higher
levels of these gases are causing the climate to change at a speed never
seen before in human history. The proposed M1 schemes will increase
traffic and CO2 emissions, which is contrary to Government policy.”

“Road building destroys and degrades habitats, species, and heritage. It
divides and fragments communities. It contributes to health problems
such as asthma and bronchitis. Road building does little for the poorest
in society, who depend on public transport. We also know that road
building doesn’t work, you only have to look at the M25 to see that more
tarmac is not a solution to congestion.”