Judicial review on decision to build ₤250m bypass through Rimrose Valley

THE plans to build a new ₤250m bypass through a country park, in Merseyside, known as Rimrose Valley is to face a legal challenge. On Friday, 16 February 2018, it was announced that a Judicial Review will now be held after court has granted Sefton Council permission to proceed.

Highways England (HE) wants to build the road through Rimrose Valley, in Litherland, to ease congestion to the Port of Liverpool, but the local Council and many residents say that the consultation process run by Highways England was heavily "flawed."

Established in 1993, Rimrose Valley is now a well used and loved green space, that is both a recreational and educational resource for local people. It is also the location of 2 'Sites of Special Local Biological Interest' (SLBI's.) It is bounded by both the Leeds - Liverpool Canal to the East and to the West, Merseyrail's Southport to Liverpool line. The area also has an abundance of bird at the western tip of Rimrose Valley Country Park. If this plan goes ahead, this is all in danger of being lost for ever.

Leader of Sefton Council Cllr Ian Maher, on 23 October 2017 issued the following statement that said the Council was going to call for a judicial review on the matter. The consultation only really looked at a revamped A5036 Dunnings Bridge Road, which is already 1 of the busiest roads within the North of England, or the Rimrose Valley Park option. Sefton stated that the consultation completely disregarded a tunnel as an alternative without any real consideration through out the process. They also said the Sefton wanted:- "to protect our communities that already suffer from some of the poorest air quality. Not only will a road through Rimrose Valley remove much loved and vital green space provision in Sefton, but will cause air pollution and threaten the environmental and ecological systems which local people enjoy and which supports their health and wellbeing. We just can't let this happen and I'm determined to fight it."

Other groups, including the local Friends of Rimrose Valley said repeatedly that the felt:- "other options had not been properly considered."

On hearing that the has been granted Sefton Council permission to proceed Friends of Rimrose Valley said:- "Now, at least local people will get a proper say in at will happen."

The Leader of Sefton Council Cllr Ian Maher, said:- "I'm pleased that the court has granted us permission to proceed with our application for a Judicial Review to look into what we believe is a flawed consultation by Highways England when they decided that their preferred option was to build a dual carriageway through Rimrose Valley. When Highways England first announced that they would only be taking forward two options to ease traffic on the A5036; a revamped A5036 Dunnings Bridge Road, which is already one of the busiest roads in the north, or a new ₤200m road through Rimrose Valley Park in Litherland; we told them that neither option would deliver the necessary benefits for our communities and to consult on a 3rd option to build a tunnel. Yet they completely disregarded this approach and ploughed on with a flawed consultation which is why we had no alternative, but to apply for a judicial review. Getting to this next stage means that the legal system clearly recognises that we have grounds to challenge the way the whole process has been handled. Their failure to include the tunnel as an option in the consultation process has deprived our residents of the opportunity to express a view; which is why we want to take action. Our case has been deemed to have enough evidence to take legal action and we'll now prepare a strong case for the Judicial Review. We will fight this to ensure that that Highways England is ordered to re-open the consultation again, and give our communities a proper opportunity to be consulted on the tunnel option. Of course it is not too late for Highways England to reconsider their position, start their consultation process again including the tunnel option and avoid the need for ongoing legal action. We hope that common sense prevails."

Port of Liverpool and Highways England (HE) have both said that:- "We are obviously disappointed that this issue will now proceed to the High Court." as both groups strongly feel that the new bypass would improve access to the existing port, as well as the ₤300m deep water container terminal Liverpool2 at Seaforth. They also think it will increase the local and regional economy by bringing in vital investment.

Will the inevitable delay to ease the congestion on the A5036, as the issue proceeds to the High Court mean that delivering this option or any other option will be lost for ever, some feel it will, or will it result in a far better opportunity, only time will tell.

Please email us your views and thoughts on this matter, via:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.