§ 25. Mrs. LaitTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made to reduce blight stemming from road and rail building. [23904]
§ Mr. WattsThe 1994 trunk roads programme review which prioritised schemes has reduced blight by removing some schemes from the programme. A review of safeguarding on all schemes in the trunk roads programme will be continued with the aim of reducing blight. Safeguarding directions for the channel tunnel rail link project were issued in December 1994, which effectively reduced blight by removing uncertainty about which land will be required. Considerable effort will be made to minimise the physical impact from construction and operation of the CTRL.