§ 2. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to commence on the bypasses on the A419 for (a) Blunsdon and (b) Latton. [13019]
§ The Minister for Railways and Roads (Mr. John Watts)The A419 Latton bypass is included in the first tranche of DBFO—design, build, finance and operate—contracts and preparatory works have already begun. The A419 Blunsdon bypass scheme has been placed in the longer-term category. It is too early to say when it may be rolled forward into the main programme.
§ Mr. CoombsIs my hon. Friend aware that the villagers of Latton will be delighted to hear that, at long last, they can look forward in the near future to relief from the heavy vehicles that have pounded through their village for so many years? I ask my hon. Friend not to forget the villagers of Blunsdon, who live athwart the same road and who, in my view, are entitled to the same consideration. I urge on him the hope that, in the not too distant future, those villagers will get the same sort of relief.
§ Mr. WattsMy hon. Friend draws attention to the fact that all schemes on the route are extremely popular with the communities that they are intended to serve. The Blunsdon bypass was at a very early stage of its preparation and not ready to be included in the tranche of DBFOs, which include three other schemes on the route. The longer-term category means that a scheme will possibly be required at some future date but is not of sufficient priority to be proceeded with at the moment.