HL Deb 31 March 1982 vol 428 cc1462-3WA
Lord Melchett

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Advisory Committee on the Landscape Treatment of Trunk Roads was consulted on the flyover on the proposed A.34 Whitway diversion in front of Beacon Hill; if not, why the flyover was introduced into the proposed scheme without consultation with them; and if they will now review this aspect of the proposal.

The Earl of Avon

The committee were asked for advice on the Whitway diversion scheme in 1978 before the department's draft proposals were published. At that stage a ground level junction at Beacon Hill was envisaged. For road safety reasons it was subsequently decided that the published proposals should provide for a bridge to carry the side road over the trunk road. The proposals were referred again to the committee in December 1980 following press comments about the scheme. Their attention was not drawn to the bridge as the press comments were mainly concerned with the effect on Highclere Park. It is not the department's practice to consult the Committee on all changes to individual junction proposals. All objections, including those relating to the form of the proposed Beacon Hill junction, will be considered by the Secretaries of State before they decide whether or not the orders should be made.