§ 6. Mr. Soamesasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to upgrade the A23 south of Crawley.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Peter Bottomley)Timing of existing schemes for the improvement of the A23 from the M23 at Pease Pottage to Handcross and from Warninglid flyover to Brighton will depend on the progress of the statutory procedures. I am considering the needs of the section between Handcross and Warninglid in the current review of the trunk road programme.
The West Sussex county council is responsible for the A23 between Crawley and the M23 at Pease Pottage.
§ Mr. SoamesI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that it is devoutly to be hoped that the statutory procedures will be hurried up in view of the great difficulties, which he has seen for himself, on the A23 at Pease Pottage and to the south? Will he ensure that as soon as it is convenient and legally possible to do so the important repairs and improvements to that stretch of road will be speedily and efficiently carried out?
§ Mr. BottomleyYes, Sir. My hon. Friend has a reputation for pressing for the traffic needs of his constituents and others to be met. We hope to consult the public on improvement options for Pease Pottage to Handcross this summer and to publish compulsory purchase orders this year for the Warninglid flyover to Brighton section.