§ Mr. SpeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the present programme for proposed road improvements to the A27 and A259 roads subject to the necessary funds being available and statutory procedures being approved.
§ Mr. Peter Bottomley"Policy for Roads in England: 1987" (Cm. 125) lists the following national trunk road programme schemes for the A27/A259/A261 route:
- (a) Planned start of construction April 1989 to March 1991
- A27 Westhampnett bypass
- A27 Polegate bypass
- A259 Winchelsea bypass
- (b) Planned start of construction from April 1991 onwards
- A27 Arundel bypass
- A27 Patching junction improvement
- A259 Bexhill and Hastings Western bypass
- A259 Hastings Eastern bypass
- A259 Rye improvement
- A259 New Romney bypass
- A259 St. Mary's Bay and Dymchurch bypass
- A261 M20-A259 Hythe improvement
In addition work is under way on the A27 Pevensey bypass and will start shortly on the first contract for the A27 Brighton bypass. Two further contracts for the Brighton bypass are expected to be let next year; timing of the fourth contract is subject to outstanding statutory procedures.
The recent White Paper "Roads for Prosperity" (Cm. 693) proposes the following further national trunk road programme schemes, for which timing has still to be determined:
- A27 Worthing to Lancing improvement
- A27 Lewes to Polegate improvement
- A259 Pevensey to Bexhill improvement
- A259 Corridor improvements—
- Guestling Thorn diversion
- Icklesham diversion
- Walland Marsh improvement
- Brookland diversion
There is also a number of small schemes, particularly junction improvements and accident prevention measures, at various stages of preparation within the Department's south-east regional programme.