§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they intend to take to bring to justice those who were responsible for the criminal damage caused to property of the Highways Agency by the cutting down on 15 April of planting on government land along the A12 trunk road embankment adjacent to the advertising hoardings on land owned by Braintree District Council at Witham; and what steps they are taking to prevent further damage to Highways Agency planting along the A12 Witham bypass. [HL3835]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter from the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr Tim Matthews, dated 25 April 2002.
I have been asked by the Minister of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about 53WA damage to the Highways Agency's estate on the A12 at Witham.
First, thank you for your swift action in contacting our Managing Agents, W S Atkins Consultants Ltd, on 15 April, when you discovered people on site. This enabled us to find out further details of the incident including who had organised the cutting back of the planting. The matter has been reported to Essex Police and we intend to pursue it vigorously.
Clearly, we cannot guarantee that others will not attempt to cut back the planting on the embankment in the future. But those with an interest in the advertising hoardings know our views and know we will take the strongest action against those proved to have caused criminal damage and trespass. I shall see that you are kept in touch with developments.