HC Deb 25 May 1995 vol 260 cc675-6W
Mr. Spearing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what Acts and statutory instruments road scheme acquisitions have or will have been made of(a) housing north and south of the A40 Western avenue in the London borough of Hammersmith and (b) housing on the north side of the A13 Newham way west of its intersection with the A112 Prince Regent land; and in respect of each scheme (i) what are the costs of housing acquisitions and compensations, (ii) what is the total cost of the scheme, (iii) what statutory procedures are outstanding and (iv) what are the firm dates of commencement and completion. [24481]

Mr. Watts

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Nigel Spearing, dated 25 May 1995: I have been asked to write to you with the information you requested in your question in the house about the trunk road improvement schemes at A40 Western Circus and A13/A112 Prince Regent Land junctions. The Secretary of State for Transport acquires properties for road construction under the Highways Act 1980, the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 and the Compulsory Purchase Act 1965 and, in planning blight cases, under the Town and Country Planning act 1990. He pays compensation for the properties acquired under the Land Compensation Acts 1961 and 1973. The Highways Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State, requires (a) houses north and south of the A40 for the trunk road improvement scheme at Western Circus in the Borough of Hammersmith and (b) houses north of A13 Newham Way to the west of A112 Prince Regent Land for the improvement of the A13/A112 junction. (1) The total cost of the housing and compensation for these properties is estimated for (a) at £3.1 million and for (b) £3.4 million. (ii) The total estimated costs of the schemes are (a) £48 million and (b) £40 million; including costs already incurred of £10 million and £3 million respectively. (iii) The statutory procedures for (a) are complete, and for (b) are awaiting a decision by the Secretaries of State whether the scheme should proceed, following the public inquiry held last year. The outstanding statutory procedures for (b) are: the A13 Trunk Road (A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement, The Trunk Road and Slip Roads) Order 19; the A13 Trunk Road (A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement, Slip Roads) Order 19; the A13 Trunk Road (A112 Prince Regent Lane Junction Improvement) Compulsory Purchase Order (No.) 19; and the proposal to issue a certificate of exchange land; entitled, The Open Space Land at Canning Town Recreation Ground, former Beckton Lido Site and Prince Regent Lane Playing Field. (iv) The main construction of the A40 Western Circus scheme is planned to start in the first quarter of 1996; a firmer date for start of works will not be available until tenders for the project have been assessed. The improvement scheme for the A13/A112 junction will proceed to construction after the statutory procedures are completed, provided resources are available.