HL Deb 30 April 1996 vol 571 cc1473-5

3.1 p.m.

Lord Renton asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why so many hedgerows, shrubs and trees near the A.1 at, and northwards from, Alconbury Hill have been cut down, and whether they will ensure that fresh shrubs and trees will be planted there as soon as possible.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)

My Lords, site clearance is under way in preparation for upgrading the A.1 to motorway standard between Alconbury and Peterborough. The scheme is one of the design, build, finance and operate contracts. The clearance is necessary for Road Management Group, which has been awarded the contract, to gain access to the site and for the consequent construction of the new road and its structures. Considerable landscaping measures are included as part of the scheme. It is proposed that some 400,000 new trees and shrubs will be planted, which will considerably enhance the existing landscape.

Lord Renton

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Perhaps I may remind him that 46 ecological sites are affected by this development. Is he aware that a mass of ancient hedgerows, which produce beautiful blossoms especially at this time of year, have been torn down, unnecessarily in some cases? Will he ensure that their replacements are mature enough to take root and flourish without delay?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right. This is clearly an important ecological area. That is why such care has been taken to make sure that the environmental impact of the road is minimised and it is why such environmental and landscaping work will take place. I can also reassure my noble friend that the work will take place, will fit in and will integrate with the existing landscape. That is one of the major priorities.

Lord Monson

My Lords, when the time comes to replant along the A.1, will the noble Viscount do his best to ensure that the same mistakes are not made as were made when the A.11 was widened from Stump Cross north-north-east towards Newmarket? There the planting was extravagantly dense, with the trees spaced less than a metre apart as opposed to the more normal 2.5 metres or so. Is not this practice expensive and wasteful both initially and when the time comes to start thinning?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I am sure that every endeavour will be made to ensure that the planting process is not wasteful and that the end result is an improved environmental area after this major road has been built.

Lord Marlesford

My Lords, does my noble friend recognise that, although the Department of Transport plants oceans of trees along roads, it generally fails to look after them, which means that the trees are wasted? Will he try to explain to the department that the most expensive and time-consuming business in tree establishment is aftercare?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, clearly the proper maintenance and care of the trees is an important factor. That has been built into the DBFO contract for the Road Management Group. It will have a duty to make sure that the trees are properly maintained.

The Earl of Drogheda

My Lords, might not consideration be given when new roads are made to the possibility of transplanting mature hedges and trees? Given the fact that large earthmoving equipment is present, it is perfectly feasible to do so.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I shall ensure that the noble Earl's suggestion is passed on to the Highways Agency. I should have thought that it has already considered the possibility of transplanting trees. But where that is not possible, it is right that we should plant trees—and not just trees but trees and shrubs of the same species as are already in the area—and that they should fully integrate with the existing woodland environment.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, is it not the case that until now the Department of Transport has subcontracted the care and maintenance of motorway trees to the Forestry Commission? Is that still the practice, or has something happened to change it? Can we not be confident that the Forestry Commission will do a good job?

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I am not able to advise the noble Baroness on what has happened with previous schemes. I shall find out and let her know. This scheme is rather different because it is one of the new phase of design, build, finance and operate schemes, whereby the party that has been awarded the contract not only builds the road but maintains it for a period—in this case, some 30 years. It is therefore its responsibility to maintain the trees.

Lord Renton

My Lords, is it not important that even motorway development should blend with the local scenery and tradition instead of it becoming an incongruous contrast with it? The replanting of shrubs is much more suitable than merely growing masses of trees which may not produce blossoms and which are merely an unfortunate contrast with what has gone before.

Viscount Goschen

My Lords, I could not agree with my noble friend more. It is right and proper that, where possible, the road should blend in with the existing landscape. That is why this new major development essentially follows the same road corridor as the existing A.1. A number of mitigation measures have been taken. There is a combination of trees and shrubs; and more than that, they are of the same species as those already in the area.