HC Deb 13 May 1985 vol 79 cc11-2
11. Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what study his Department has made of the implications for the adequacy of road communications between London and Ramsgate of the increase in ferry traffic between that port and the continent; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

Traffic to and from Ramsgate will be taken into account in our current study of the possible need for more capacity on the section of the M2 between junctions 1 and 3. From the M2 to Ramsgate the link is the A299 Thanet way and the A253, for which Kent county council is the highway authority.

Mr. Crouch

Is my hon. Friend aware of the television advertising campaign conducted by the Sally Line which says: Ramsgate to Dunkirk—the only way to go"? Is he also aware that that campaign is bound to increase traffic of all sorts on the A299 Thanet way? When will her Department match this initiative and enterprise by the private sector operator, the Sally Line, and adopt this road as a trunk road and develop it as it should be developed —as a dual carriageway road to Europe?

Mrs. Chalker

I think that my hon. Friend knows that we are delighted with the thrusting attitude of the advertising by the Sally Line. I believe that the advertisement goes on after the only way to go to say something else, but I do not have the words in front of me.

I am well aware of my hon. Friend's anxiety about the A299 and the A253. We have undertaken to keep the matter under review and to consider the possible need to bring the road into the trunk road network. At present, I am considering what can be done to solve the problems that are caused by a combination of traffic and gradient on those roads. That is the priority for the time being. The matter will be kept under review.

Mr. Soames

Will my hon. Friend consider the likely impact on this route and on others from the Channel ports when the Channel tunnel is completed?

Mrs. Chalker

My hon. Friend is jumping ahead a little—

Mr. Soames

Thrusting!

Mrs. Chalker

Thrusting ahead, yes. I have no doubt that he is as anxious as anyone to see closer links with Europe, but he knows that potential tenderers have until 31 October this year to respond to the guidelines that my right hon. Friend issued several weeks ago. I understand that work on that aspect is proceeding very well. However, all road links to the ports, whether they be off the Thanet way or anywhere else, are being looked at closely in the light of the decisions that will be taken.