§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what detailed studies he undertook into traffic reductions in Newbury in order to alleviate the problems of congestion from local vehicles; [36678]
(2) what on-the-ground measures he has undertaken to assess the environmental impacts of the Newbury bypass during the review period; [36675]
(3) what account he has taken of the findings of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution 18th report, with particular reference to recommendations 59 and 96, and possibilities and options for traffic reductions in the review of the A34 Newbury bypass and the subsequent decision to proceed with the road; and if he will make a statement. [36677]
§ Mr. WattsThe inspector who held the public inquiry in 1988 agreed with the Department that the bypass would not solve all Newbury's traffic problems, but he did conclude that it would provide sufficient relief to enable local authorities to introduce effective measures to relieve the residual problems.
The recent study commissioned by my right hon. Friend for Peterborough (Dr. Mawhinney) looked at traffic management—including the measures covered by RCEP recommendation 96—public transport and minimal improvements to the existing road as an alternative to the proposed bypass. The conclusion was that the benefit of such measures were constrained by the limited number of canal/river crossings and the congested junctions at either side. The bypass will allow the space for a new approach to transport and traffic in the town by removing the heavy through traffic.
The team which carried out the study based its work on existing environmental data collected for the public consultation and the two public inquiries, visiting the site to put this in context. In assessing the information thus collected, the team applied the current environmental assessment procedures set out in the Department of Transport's design manual for roads and bridges.
218WRCEP recommendation 59 was considered by the recent study, but the measures that this would involve would force more traffic on to local routes unsuited to heavy traffic, much of which would end up travelling longer distances. If the measures covered by RCEP recommendation 96 were implemented on their own, they could worsen the situation. By removing the through traffic, the bypass will allow the space for a new approach to transport and traffic in the town.