To: Cllr Margaret Eaton
Subject: Saltaire Bypass

20 May 2007

Having attended a Neighbourhood Forum in Saltaire last week, I am shocked and disgusted by the council's ridiculous 'early stage' plan for a bypass that tunnels underneath the World Heritage site and doesn't bypass it at all! I suspect that you haven't seen it yet - it really is quite obvious that it would simply waste more resources to persue it any further and the plan needs to be scrapped now. I was told that the reason for wanting a bypass is to re-generate this section of the Aire Valley. This area is already re-generating itself by being a place of beauty, attracting wealthy business people to live here - which in turn has generated local businesses (offices, restaurants, wine bars etc;). One sniff of this stupid plan and all the money will move out, plus if it goes ahead, the surrounding beauty (both sounds and sights) will be destroyed. My house is next to the railway and the building is already affected by vibrations from that without running a road under the line! Please would you look into this as it is causing much heartache for residents of the village and surrounding area?

Yours sincerely

Tue, 29 May 2007, From: anne.hawkesworth@bradford.gov.uk

Dear

Thank you for your e-mail concerning the concept of a Saltaire Bypass which Councillor Eaton has asked me to respond to as Portfolio Holder responsible for Environment and Culture. I share your concerns for the World Heritage Site but it is precisely because of those concerns that officers of the Council are recommending that tunnelling solutions be considered. It is too early to say whether these are feasible or affordable but the extent of the World Heritage Site means that alternatives to a conventional bypass need to be examined. The purpose of such a scheme would be to help the regeneration of Airedale, not just locally but also more remotely. Its potential impact on existing residents and business people needs to be properly assessed and I hope that any works will result in minimum disruption to reidents. I'm hopeful that officers can provide further information in the near future to enable the Council's Executive to decide whether or not to pursue the concept.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth
Environment and Culture Portfolio Holder


Sent: 02 October 2007 20:11
To: Cllr Anne Hawkesworth
Subject: RE: Saltaire Bypass

Dear Councillor Hawkesworth

I am still gravely concerned about the tunnelling solution that is being considered and I wondered whether the officers have yet provided you with the further information about the concept since your attached e-mail back in May. As a resident of Saltaire, I am finding this extremely unsettling and, already, a couple of my friends and acquaintances have put their homes on the market. It would be helpful if the council could publiscise details of the other solutions that are being considered - especially those that do not impact so directly on the World Heritage Site in order to put minds at ease.

Yours sincerely


Subject: RE: Saltaire Bypass
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 10:39:38 +0100
From:
anne.hawkesworth@bradford.gov.uk

The scheme you are all concerned about is the only one that the conservation advisers have not as yet objected to as they see its impact on the WHS as minimal -- They are extremely assiduous at protecting the credibility of the site.


To:
anne.hawkesworth@bradford.gov.uk
Subject: RE: Saltaire Bypass
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 16:53:43 +0000


Dear Councillor Hawkesworth

Thank you for your prompt reply. Does this mean that this is the only scheme that the council are considering?

Yours sincerely