'Carbon bomb' warning adds to relief road woes

23/12/2024 | CHRIS AMES

'Carbon bomb' warning adds to relief road woes

Shropshire Council has sought to shrug off a new estimate of the carbon impact of its controversial relief road scheme by increasing the budget and timescale for its pledge to offset the scheme’s emissions.

However, the highway authority has had to admit that it does not have a fully worked-out or costed plan to achieve the promised offsetting and a report from its consultants admits that the main method identified so far cannot be relied upon.

The council has launched a public consultation after submitting a revised Carbon Impact Assessment for the Shrewsbury North West Relief Road (NWRR) to its Northern Planning Committee.

It said the increase in emissions results from a new assessment methodology from the Department for Transport that accounts for a wider range of activities.

In fact, the main change compared to an assessment in 2021 is to the operational impact of the scheme, with road user emissions estimated to be an additional 23,212 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), compared to a previously forecast reduction of 24,545 tCO2e.

Including a (revised) estimate of 42,045 tCO2e from construction and other impacts, the scheme is now forecast to produce lifetime carbon emissions of 76,761 tCO2e, nearly three times the earlier forecast of 26,711 tCO2e.

In response, the council has extended the timescale for making the road ‘carbon neutral’ from 2030 to 2050 and increased the budget for offsetting from £1.4m to £8.4m, representing a further cost increase for a scheme that is already significantly over its original budget.

A report from consultants WSP states that a process to achieve carbon neutrality has been drafted and identifies initial measures that will be considered as part of this.

It adds: ‘This includes use of and support to the Council’s investment in a specialist pyrolysis company from which carbon from vegetation/biomass removed during construction can be captured and stored as biochar.’

However a separate WSP report in response to challenges from the public about the practicality of the proposal states: ‘It is understood, following conversations throughout the Planning Application process, that the Council’s pyrolysis project is not yet at a sufficient level of maturity to rely on to offset the scheme’s impact.’

Campaign group Better Shrewsbury Transport (BeST) said the new estimates prove that the road is a ‘carbon bomb’ and said the fact that the council currently has no quantified or costed plans to mitigate the NWRR’s emissions is breach of one of its planning conditions.

Mike Streetly of BeST said: ‘Ever since this scheme had its public consultation in 2020 the council has told residents that the NWRR will reduce emissions from drivers in Shrewsbury.

‘Now we learn that’s not true at all. If the council builds the road, they will destroy their own climate emergency declaration and their claim to be a climate leader.'

Shropshire Council said the revised assessment has also been submitted to the Northern Planning Committee to ensure full transparency throughout the planning process.

Cabinet member for highways Dan Morris said: ‘Key to our commitment to match the new offsetting requirements and balance the carbon emissions produced is the clear evidence of the many benefits the NWRR for people across Shropshire.

‘We’re committed to transparency throughout this project to ensure that everyone in our county has access to the full range of facts around the road, so that they, councillors, and ultimately the government, can make an informed decision on what is best for the future of our county.’

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Civil Enforcement Officers x 2

£26,403.00 - £28,142.00, Grade 5, 37 hours, Permanent
Parking Services are looking to recruit 2 full time Civil Enforcement Officers to complement its existing workforce. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Senior Street Cleanse Technician x 3 (CDC)

Grade 6 £25,981 - £26,815
We are about to embark on an ambitious programme of change in our city. Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recruiter: City Of Doncaster Council

Highways Development Officer

£37,280 - £40,777
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Development Management Co-ordinator. Gloucester
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Principal Highways Development Officer

£48,226 - £51,35
This is an exciting time for a talented, self-driven professional to join us in the role of Highways Principal Development Management Co-ordinator . Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Recruiter: Gloucestershire County Council

Street Lighting Project Engineer

PO2 - £41,442 to £44,331
Help us keep our streets safe, efficient and ready for the future Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recruiter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Principal Engineer - Highways Development Management

£47,181.00 - £50,269.00, Grade 11, 37 hours, Permanent
We are seeking a dedicated Principal Highways Development Management Engineer to join our team. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Development Management Engineer

£32,061.00 - £46,142.00, Career Grade 7-10, 37 hours, Permanent
Do you want to join a team helping to shape the future of Wakefield through HIghways Development Management? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Wakefield Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Boroughbridge, York
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Highways Project Engineer

£31,537 - £42,839 per annum
Would you like to be part of our friendly, welcoming Highways team, proud to manage all aspects of the highway network? Skipton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
Within the Highways Maintenance Team we are looking for an enthusiastic, customer focused and experienced person Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Highway Design and Construction Manager

Grade N, scp50 £62,443 to scp53 £65,663 per annum, plus essential car user allowance
We embrace AI to enhance our operations and to innovate our services. Bolton, Greater Manchester
Recruiter: Bolton Council

Technician - Highway Inspector

Grade 8 £29,719 - £31,691 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services. Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Team Leader (Maintenance Operations)

Grade 10 - £48,226 - £51,356
Cardiff is growing faster than any other capital city in Europe. Cardiff (Caerdydd)
Recruiter: Cardiff Council

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor Forfar, Angus
Recruiter: Amey

Tree Surveyor

£Competitive
We are excited to offer fantastic opportunities for Permanent Tree Surveyors Scotland
Recruiter: Amey

Chief Operating Officer – South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee

£Competitive
We’re looking for a bold, visionary leader to take on the role of Chief Operating Officer Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)
Recruiter: Carmarthenshire County Council

Clerk of Works - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Clerk of Works to join our dynamic NMC SW Account team at Polmadie. Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Supervisor

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a permanent Highways Supervisor to join our NMC NE account in Kinross. Perth and Kinross
Recruiter: Amey

Planner - Highways

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for Permanent Planner – Highways to join our NMC SW Account. Glasgow City
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Manager

£51,356 - £55,539 per annum
We are looking for an experienced Engineer to join the team as a Highways Maintenance Manager Selby, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW