HC Deb 26 March 1996 vol 274 cc549-51W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the estimated completion date of the Ml 1 link road(a) from Redbridge roundabout to Hackney and (b) through Wanstead to the Green Man; [22466]

(2) if he will recalculate the cost benefit analysis used to justify the Ml 1 link road, taking into account the costs of constructing sections of the road but not achieving the expected benefits for several years due to the whole scheme being uncompleted; [22476]

(3) what estimate he has made of the cost to Tesco of delaying the opening of the superstore on the site of Leytonstone house due to the decision to put back the completion of the whole of the M11 link road; what assessment he has made of the risk of reduced planning benefit to the London borough of Waltham Forest from its agreement with Tesco; and if he proposes to compensate them both; [22477]

(4) if he will compensate those residents living within the vicinity of the M11 link road in Leyton and Leytonstone who wish to sell their property within the period of the delay in the completion of the road and who are unable to realise the full value of their home due to the extended period of blight on the area; and if he will make a statement; [22471]

(5) what security measures to avoid vandalism and theft, and at what estimated cost, will be in place when the section of the M11 link road through Leyton and Leytonstone is completed and vacated by the construction contractor until the road is in operation; what arrangements will be made, and by whom, to (a) clear rubbish dumped on this section of road, (b) stop young children gaining access to it, (c) stop car or drag races occurring on it and (d) stop access to this section of road by would-be squatters and anti-road protesters; and if he will make a statement; [22470]

(6) what assessment (a) he and (b) the Highways Agency have made of the effects, with special reference to catering for the volume of through traffic, of the severing important traffic routes and their proposed replacement in Leyton and Leytonstone prior to the completion of the link road; and what measures are planned to ameliorate the negative effects; [22468]

(7) what is the financial saving to Her Majesty's Government of delaying completion of the two phases of the Ml 1 link road; [22479]

(8) if he will keep Leyton way open for through traffic until the M11 link road is completed; [22472]

(9) what cost benefit analysis he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated of leaving 2.4 km of newly constructed three-lane dual carriageway road through Leyton and Leytonstone vacant for a period of two years; [22469]

(10) what is the estimated completion date for contract 2 (Temple Mills to the Green Man) of the M11 link road; [22465]

(11) if he will provide compensation in the form of additional resources for recreational park and green space in Leyton and Leytonstone in recompense for the adverse environmental effect upon the area of delaying the completion of the M11 link road; and if he will make a statement; [22473]

(12) what is the estimated completion date of the Green Man replacement phase of the Ml 1 link road; [22467]

(13) what is his assessment of the effect upon (a) the work at Leyton Yard, (b) the plans for Leyton relief road and (c) the single regeneration budget activity in this area of the delay in completing the relevant phase of the Ml 1 link road. [22478]

Mr. Norris

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 26 March 1996: As you know I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your Parliamentary Questions about the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road; I have taken them in the order they were asked. The programme announced in November 1995 envisaged completion of the A12 Hackney to M11 Link Road in 1999. We hope to open the section from Redbridge, through Wanstead to just east of the Green Man roundabout early in 1998. We will not be undertaking a further cost benefit analysis. Cost benefit analyses are carried out as part of the decision making process for road schemes. We do not carry out further analysis once the scheme is under construction. We have not made any estimate of the cost to Tesco of delaying the opening of their store nor of the risk of reduced planning benefit to the London Borough of Waltham Forest. All our programmes are subject to change and to the availability of funding, this is a known risk which developers and local authorities must take into account in their planning. Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 provides a right for people to claim compensation if they consider their property has suffered depreciation in value due to specified physical factors— including noise, smell, fumes, smoke and artificial lighting arising as a direct result of the use of a new or altered road. Claims may normally be made one year after the road first opens to public traffic and public notices are placed in the local press at the appropriate time. But if any of your constituents need to sell before then, there is scope for claims to be made earlier. The question of security and measures to prevent vandalism is still under consideration and we will be having discussions with the police, local authorities and others in the run up to the completion of this section. I shall let you know the outcome nearer the time. The construction of new roads inevitably has a disruptive effect on the local road network, particularly so in urban areas. We are discussing with the London Borough of Waltham Forest what can be done for road users in Leyton and Leytonstone. There are no savings over the life of the scheme. All we are doing is managing the roads programme within the budget available. We are in discussion with the London Borough of Waltham Forest about traffic management measures for road users in Leyton and Leytonstone. However, any measures identified would require the co-operation of the local authority in making the orders for the local roads. We have not undertaken any further cost benefit analysis for the reasons I mentioned earlier. The estimated completion date for Contract 2 is Summer 1997, assuming that we can resolve with the London Borough of Waltham Forest the acquisition of the necessary land. We do not plan to provide compensation in the form of additional resources for recreational park and green space in recompense for the delay in completing the Link Road. Replacement of the Green Man roundabout will determine the completion of the whole of the Link Road; it is currently estimated to be in the Autumn of 1999. The delay to the overall scheme will have knock-on effects for some regeneration projects in the area. The Stratford Development Partnership have already made representations to officials about this and we will be responding to them shortly. Officials from the Government Office for London will be happy to discuss with the Partnership and others what effect these delays will have on their programme.