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Environmental Effects
Existing environmental features are shown on the plan above.
The A500 is generally perceived as having an environment of low quality, with problems of traffic congestion adding to air pollution and high levels of noise and visual intrusion from road traffic, particularly for local residents and pedestrians. The existing road and its structures are unattractive and have an adverse impact upon nearby Conservation Areas such as St Peter’s churchyard and the Trent and Mersey Canal. Links for pedestrians and cyclists across the A500 are poor. Sections of the Fowlea Brook and River Trent in culvert result in a poor environment for wildlife and in the case of the Trent, deter the migration of species upstream. The traffic congestion and poor environmental quality of the road corridor are considered to act as a constraint on regeneration and employment opportunities for Stoke-on-Trent.
The environmental benefits associated with the Scheme include:
- Reduced traffic congestion and improved safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.
- Reduced visual intrusion for some dwellings, open spaces and the canal corridor as a result of additional environmental barriers.
- Reduced visual intrusion as a result of reducing the level of the road, with the A500 in underpass at Stoke Road and City Road junctions and reducing the height of the link roads and slip roads compared to the existing carriageway levels.
- Townscape enhancement particularly in the vicinity of the junctions at Stoke Road and City Road.
- Improved views from the road corridor as a result of new tree and shrub planting, removal of many existing, unattractive road structures and enhancement of retaining walls, which are to be kept.
- Enhancement for wildlife, particularly as a result of opening up lengths of the River Trent and Fowlea Brook with new channels designed to improve habitats for fish and otters.
- Improved pollution controls to the River Trent with the introduction of oil interceptors and settlement ponds to the road drainage.
- Improvements for Built Heritage with the enhancement of The Trent and Mersey Canal and St Peter’s Churchyard, both Conservation Areas, and reductions in visual impact for several Listed Buildings and Buildings of Special Local Interest.
- Improved accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists with direct, segregated routes, protected from traffic across the A500 at City Road and Stoke Road, replacing the existing indirect, shared pedestrian/cyclist routes and subways.
- Reduced air pollution at some dwellings.
The proposals would have some, mainly slight, adverse environmental impacts relative to the existing situation but these would be outweighed by the environmental benefits described above.
- The majority of properties within 300m of the A500 would experience some increase in noise.
- The loss of semi-mature tree planting within the existing wide central reservation and at the centre of the roundabouts, which would be mitigated by the provision of new tree and shrub planting wherever space allows.
- A barely perceptible, short-term increase in visual impact for a small number of properties, which would be mitigated in the long term by the growth of screen planting.
- Local air pollution would reduce after the road works have been completed compared to existing levels. However pollution levels with the proposals are predicted to be marginally higher within and adjacent to the road corridor than they would have been without them although no dwelling would experience adverse effects.
- The potential disturbance of archaeological remains for example former pottery workings. An archaeologist would be on hand during construction to monitor and record any findings.
- Slight increases in flood levels to the Fowlea Brook at Stoke Road junction and in the vicinity of Leason Street. Any further risk of flooding would be removed by increasing the height of flood protection structures.
- Some noise disturbance, disruption to the canal and temporary disruption to both local and through roads and to pedestrian and cyclist access during the construction phase.
- The disturbance of some ground contaminated by Stoke’s industrial past, including heavy metals and oils. Any such material would be safely removed to a licensed waste disposal site.
- Small amounts of land would be required for minor road changes at Stoke Road and City Road junctions, a new exit slip road to the south of Whieldon Road, a new open channel to the River Trent south of City Road, and a new open channel to the Fowlea Brook north of Stoke Road junction. Nearly all land-take would be from vacant development land although there would be a requirement to demolish two domestic garages.
| Topic | Effects of Scheme | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Integration | Land-Use Policy: The scheme supports a large majority of land use and transport policies affecting Stoke-on-Trent at national, regional and local levels. Increases in noise levels would not accord with national planning policy guidance which seeks to reduce the impact of noise from new development. Otherwise the scheme is consistent with policy at national or regional level. A minor loss of development land would not fit with local policies but this is more than outweighed by the potential benefits of the scheme for development. The scheme as a whole is consistent with other government policies outside transport. | 'Beneficial' |
| Noise | The proposals would increase the road traffic capacity and consequently noise levels are generally predicted to increase. Mitigation in the form of environmental barriers would reduce the impact. Although some properties and amenity areas would experience a reduction in noise the majority of properties and some amentity areas within the study area would experience perceptible increases in noise. | 'Adverse' |
| Air Quality | Local air pollution would reduce after the road works have been completed compared to existing levels. However pollution levels with the proposals are predicted to be marginally higher within and adjacent to the road corridor than they would have been without them although no dwelling would experience adverse effects. | 'Neutral' |
| Townscape and Visual Impact | Visual intrusion would be reduced as a result of improved screening and reductions in the level of the road, including the provision of underpasses at Stoke Road and City Road junctions. The overall townscape would also benefit as a result of: restoration of characteristic features of the town such as the River Trent and the Trent and Mersey canal. a reduction in the scale of the road junctions and existing structures. improved design of new and existing structures and use of better quality finishes. |
'Large Beneficial' (Positive) Effect |
| Built Heritage | The study area contains 3 Conservation Areas of local and regional importance and several listed buildings. The scheme would result in a 'moderate beneficial' effect on the Trent and Mersey Canal Conservation Area, a 'slight beneficial' effect on St Peter's Churchyard Conservation Area and some listed buildings and a 'neutral' effect on Winton Square Conservation Area. | 'Slight Beneficial' (Positive) Effect |
| Archaeology | The study area contains one Scheduled Ancient Monument, the Saxon cross in the Churchyard, 4 sites of regional/local importance, including the churchyard, canal and the former imperial pottery works and 36 sites of local importance. The scheme would have a 'slight beneficial' effect on 12 sites, a 'moderately adverse' impact on the Imperial pottery works if anything remains, a 'slight adverse' effect on 8 locally important sites and a 'neutral' effect on the rest. | 'Neutral' |
| Geology and Soils | There are no designated geological sites within the study area and no soils are used for agricultral purposes. Approximately 165 000 m3 of materials would be removed from the site to licensed landfills, including pproximately 40 000 m3 of contaminated material. Within the road corridor, removal of contaminated soil and the increase in hard cover would reduce human, plant and animal exposure to contaminated soils and reduce the potential of contaminating water resources. | 'Neutral' |
| The Water Environment | Flood Risk - there would be no change to flood risk from the River Trent except a negligible decrease in flood risk upstream of the canal. There would be no change to flood risk for most of the Fowlea Brook except a negligible increase at two locations, which would be mitigated where necessary. | 'Neutral' |
| The Water Environment | Water Quality - the scheme would result in the following improvements: Removal of long stretches of the River Trent and Fowlea Brook from culvert and design to improve water aeration. Introduction of oil interceptors, spillage containment and reed beds to control pollution from road runoff. A500 drainage would no longer outfall to the Trent and Mersey Canal. Replacement of roundabouts with underpasses reduces the probability of a serious accidental spillage to acceptable levels. The road drainage system would not have any connectivity to groundwater. |
'Slight Beneficial' |
| Biodiversity | The study area includes several areas of 'negligible' to 'lower' biodiversity value (including Fowlea Brook and the Trent and Mersey Canal), and three areas of 'medium' value (including the river Trent, Trentside Pool and Hartshill Park). Trentside Pool and Hartshill Park have been designated as Areas of Wildlife Interest by Stoke-on-trent city Council. Trentside Pool and Hartshill Park would not be affected by the proposals and the overall effects on the canal would be neutral. The River Trent and Fowlea Brook would benefit from reductions in the length of culverts and habitat creation. | 'Minor Gain' |
| Accessibility | The scheme would improve accessibility over the A500 and severance would be reduced for pedestrians, especially the disabled, elderly and children. Cyclists would experience a beneficial impact. | 'Moderate Beneficial' Effect |
| Physical Fitness | The scheme would encourage both walking and cycling over the A500 and along the canal towpath. | 'Beneficial' |
| Journey Ambience | Traveller care would improve as a result of reduced traffic congestion, improved road layout, improved navigation on the Trent and Mersey Canal and improved links for pedestrians and cyclists. Traveller stress would reduce due to separation of through traffic from local traffic and a co-ordinated system of direction signs. The proposals would also enhance views for pedestrians, cyclists, canal users and drivers on local roads, although views experienced by drivers on the A500 would be more restricted. | 'Large Beneficial' Effect |
| Disruption Due to Construction | The construction period would last approximately two years with the major works concentrated at Stoke Road and City Road junctions. The works would be sequenced to maintain full traffic flow on the A500 and access at all crossings over the A500 would be maintained throughout for pedestrians, cyclists and local vehicle travellers. Construction traffic would be directed away from residential areas and sensitive buildings. Some night time working would be necessary with noise levels to be agreed with Stoke-on-Trent City Council. Work to the River Trent and Fowlea Brook would result in temporary diversions but flows would be maintained to avoid any risk of flooding. Navigation and access to the towpath would be closed on a short section of the Trent and Mersey Canal for a limited period in winter. | Temporary 'Slight Adverse' |
Note: Most adjectives used to describe environmental effects and the overall assessment of each issue in the Environmental Statement are in accordance with advice contained in ‘Guidance on the Methodology for Multi-Modal Studies, Published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions in March 2000.
