MEDIA COVERAGE

September 2025

TransportXtra: Transport Action Network writes to the ORR to urge an investigation into National Highways’ use of Designated Funds.

August 2025

The Construction Index: Transport Action Network writes to the ORR about how it has discovered National Highways is syphoning off money from a dedicated fund for environmental and safety improvements (Designated Funds) to use it as sweeteners or greenwashing for new roadbuilding schemes.

July 2025

Manchester World: The Haweswater underpass has not been included in the M60 Simister Island scheme design. Rebecca Lush is quoted: ‘it has the potential to provide a green way for children to walk and cycle to schools, and for local people to access leisure facilities.’ Also reported by Roch Valley Radio.

Manchester Evening News: National Highways fails to include improving the unusable underpass in M60 Simister Island scheme design. Also reported by Bury Times.

Construction News: £92bn investment in transport does not focus enough on public transport. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, is quoted.

BBC: A66 road scheme given funding. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, is quoted. Also reported by GB News, Construction Index, and Place Yorkshire.

LondonDaily.News: Grassroots organisations, including Transport Action Network, sign SUV Alliance letter calling on Wimbledon Tennis Championship organisers to drop sponsorship from Range Rover.

June 2025

The Guardian: Opinion piece by George Monbiot on the Lower Thames Crossing. The Roberts Report, commissioned by Transport Action Network, is included.

GB News: Transport Action Network call for budget to be redirected to tackle England’s road safety emergency. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, is quoted.

BBC: £590m awarded to the Lower Thames Crossing scheme. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, is quoted. Also reported on by Thurrock Nub News.

The Argus: Spending Review does not bring good news for active travel funding. Transport Action Network Director Chris Todd is quoted: “the 40% cut in Active Travel England’s funding shows why the Treasury needs reform. As active travel consistently gives some of the highest rates of return, and reduces inequality, protects the NHS, while improving health and well-being, it should be a no brainer. Instead we see money diverted into poorer value roads like the Lower Thames Crossing.”

New Civil Engineer: Court of Appeal rules in Transport Action Network’s favour, finding that the decision to cut active travel funding by the previous government in 2023 was unlawful. Also reported by Highways Magazine and Solicitors Journal.

BBC: A66 dualling scheme not mentioned in the Spending Review.

May 2025

The Guardian: Transport Action Network analysis finds Darford Crossing toll will triple, to £8.10 for cars and £14 for lorries, if private finance is used. Also reported on by GB News, Sky News, and The Sun.

Labour List: A piece with ASLEF about the Lower Thames Crossing, and how it is not possible to build our way out of road congestion.

Your Thurrock: The cost of the delays caused by the construction of the Lower Thames Crossing could be more than £1bn, according to calculations by Transport Action Network.

April 2025

Your Thurrock: Transport Action Network will not challenge the Lower Thames Crossing, but believe it will be cancelled because of the cost and public opinion.

GB News: Transport Action Network to challenge the National Networks National Policy Statement (NNNPS) at the High Court. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, is quoted: “In 2021, the Department for Transport accepted the need for using cars less. With electric vehicle rules being watered down this week, it’s more important than ever to give people cheaper, convenient alternatives to driving rather than pushing on with a costly high-carbon roads programme.” Also reported in Solicitors Journal.

March 2025

The Independent: The Lower Thames Crossing is approved by the government. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, quoted: “Rather than boosting growth, this will clog up roads in the South East and slow the economy down even more.” Also reported in The Guardian, BBC, The Metro, and New Civil Engineer.

GB News: As costs for the M3 J9 road scheme spirals, Chris Todd is quoted, questioning the handling of the scheme by National Highways. Also reported by TransportXtra.

Kent Online: Chris Todd is quoted in an article about the Lower Thames Crossing and its costs.

BikeBiz: Roger Geffen explains the importance of active travel funding and Transport Action Network’s legal challenge.

February 2025

Rail Advent: Essex-Kent Superlinks Report by Transport Action Network suggests an alternative to the Lower Thames Crossing. Also reported in New Civil Engineer.

The Times: Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, quoted in an article about the Lower Thames Crossing and infrastructure projects in the UK: “The people tasked with solving the problem are the National Highways agency. The only thing they know about is highways.”

Thurrock Nub News: Transport Action Network ridicule National Highways’ greenwashing about the Lower Thames Crossing.

January 2025

BBC: Transport Action Network call for ‘measures at all levels of government to reduce road traffic and to significantly boost public transport instead’ as villagers lose hope after Stonehenge Tunnel scheme scrapped.

Highways Magazine: Rachel Reeves says she is exploring PFI options for the Lower Thames Crossing. Leigh Day, on behalf of Transport Action Network, has previously written to the Department for Transport saying private funding for the scheme would invalidate the current planning process.

Cumbria Crack: Legal challenge over A66 road scheme dismissed by Court of Appeal.

The Times: Letter by Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, on the government wanting to speed up planning decisions.

TransportXtra: Transport Action Network report calls on the Labour Government to invest money saved from cancelled road schemes in the South West into public transport and active travel.

Highways Magazine: Norwich Western Link scheme shelved by council because of its impact on bats. Chris Todd, Director of Transport Action Network, calls for the council to focus on ‘measures that will reduce traffic, whilst preserving important natural habitats.’

BBC: New report by Transport Action Network calls for greater connectivity to the South West after the cancellation of the A303 Stonehenge and A358 road schemes.