TRANSPORT campaigners are demanding an explanation from Secretary of State for Transport Geoff Hoon about his role as the decision-maker for the Mottram-Tintwistle bypass.
Friends of the Peak District and the Campaign for National Parks have written to Mr Hoon asking him to explain reports about a recent meeting he held with pro-bypass lobbyists.
After the meeting, MP Tom Levitt was quoted as saying "local politicia
ns and the Highways Agency agreed there was no credible alternative route for the road", and that it was accepted the bypass and the Glossop spur road were now "welded together".
This outraged transport campaigners because the public inquiry into the controversial bypass of the A57 and A628 had not looked at alternative routes or options for reducing traffic.
Building the bypass without the spur road had not been ruled out either.
Campaigners say that the statements suggest Mr Hoon had pre-judged the outcome of the inquiry, and are particularly worried about the integrity of his ministerial decision-making role.
"Major developments in National Parks must be subject to rigorous public examination as part of the process of deciding whether they should proceed. Mr Hoon appears to have circumvented this and we are concerned that his reported comments will lead to a loss of public confidence in the inquiry process," said Ruth Chambers, Policy Chief at the Campaign for National Parks.
"These statements have jumped the gun," added Anne Robinson from Friends of the Peak District.
"The Secretary of State for Transport appears to have breached the Government's own Ministerial Code, and the standards set for ministers with decision making powers.
"We've written to Mr Hoon asking him to come clean and confirm what happened at the meeting. We'd like him to state whether a fair, objective, impartial and open public inquiry can now proceed."
Friends of the Peak District and the Campaign for National Parks have also invited the Secretary of State to meet with the objectors to the bypass.
