§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest vehicle count on the A2 at Lydden; and what figure has to be reached before a decision is reached on whether to build a motorway to serve Dover.
§ Mr. SpeedTraffic flows in Lydden in August, 1970, were 11,176 vehicles in an average 16-hour day. Heavy goods vehicles formed only 7.8 per cent. of total traffic. A motorway would not be justified unless improvement of the existing road would fail to meet the forecast traffic requirements. The planned improvements will fully meet these requirements.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last 202W officially inspected the A2 to Dover; and whether he remains satisfied that this road is adequate as a main transport route to Europe.
§ Mr. SpeedOfficials in the Department of the Environment and of Kent County Council, our agent authority for this road, have constant experience of traffic conditions on the A2. I am satisfied that plans for the road will prove adequate to meet expected traffic needs.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the delay in the work on the development of the A2 to Dover, and the lack of any plans to complete the M2 to Dover is caused by the possibility of the Channel Tunnel being built; and how much longer these road works will be retarded in this way.
§ Mr. SpeedThe proposals for the Channel Tunnel have neither delayed the comprehensive improvement of the A2 nor influenced the decision not to extend the M2 to Dover.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will institute an inquiry in his Department concerning the delay in carrying out the proposed developments on the A2 from Brenley Corner to Dover.
§ Mr. SpeedNo. The preparation and planning of major road schemes, and particularly the statutory procedures, necessarily take time. The schemes on this route are being pressed ahead as fast as possible.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the bypass of the village of Bridge on the A2 will not commence until 1974 when the line of the new road was agreed a year ago.
§ Mr. SpeedThe line of the new road has not been established by statutory procedures. Draft orders will be published in the autumn, but the time necessary to complete these procedures and to complete design of the scheme make it unlikely that construction can start before 1974.
Mr. Crouch asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the time required to complete the M2 to Dover.
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