§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the detailed programme for implementation of the Bourton and Zeals bypass.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyDraft orders under the provisions of the Highways Act 1980 are to be published by Easter. We then have to allow time for the submission and consideration of objections and the holding of a public inquiry should one prove to be necessary. It is unlikely that we shall be able to reach this stage before the end of the year. Assuming a successful outcome to the public inquiry it should be possible to announce a final decision about the end of 1987. Final detailed design, preparation of contract documents and procedures for obtaining tenders are expected to take a further 12 months which means that work should start either late 1988 or early 1989. These timings would be strongly dependent upon there being no modifications to the orders following the public inquiry.