§ 1. Dr. Michael Clarkasked the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to improve the major trunk roads from London to south-east Essex.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Mrs. Lynda Chalker)Our revised plans for the trunk road programme were announced in September. They include six schemes for the improvement of the Ala between London and Tilbury, an improvement of the Rayleigh weir junction on the Al27 between London and Southend, a bypass of Chelmsford on the A12 on which I hope to announce a decision very soon, and the M11 to Hackney link.
§ Dr. ClarkI thank my hon. Friend for her reply. When may we expect work to start on a flyover at Rayleigh weir and when will it be finished and in use?
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe addition of the scheme to the programme was announced in May. The White Paper this year indicated that, following satisfactory completion of statutury procedures, we should commence construction in the period following April 1987. Further than that I cannot say at the moment.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasIs my hon. Friend aware that we have been waiting for 21 years in Chelmsford for a decision on the A12—since I was adopted as candidate for Chelmsford? As many people are suffering from planning blight, and as there is a great deal of uncertainty, will my hon. Friend, who I know is studying this matter, give me a combined 21st birthday and Christmas present and announce it before 25 December?
§ Mrs. ChalkerI think my right hon. Friend knows that the inspector's report has been received by my Department, but it was a long report running to 400 or so pages and has raised a number of complex questions. I hope very much, as I said last month, to announce a decision and I shall try to make it a 21st anniversary and Christmas present for him.