§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many separate road schemes are contained within the Folkestone-Honiton trunk route; and whether this route falls within the EC directive on environmental assessment;
(2) if he will make a statement on the strategic impact of the Folkestone-Honiton trunk route.
§ Mr. ChopeThe Folkestone-Honiton route is the only east-west trunk route across the south-east of the country south of the M25, and it forms an important access into the south-west. Traffic levels vary from section to section along the route. Proposals for individual improvement schemes are considered on their merits, and are designed to standards which reflect the forecast traffic flows for the particular sections concerned. The national roads programme currently includes 19 schemes for improvements to sections of the A259 and A27 between Folkestone and the M27 motorway, and another 14 schemes for sections of the A31 and A35 westwards from the M27 to Honiton. I announced on 8 January 1992 the addition to the programme of a scheme to increase the capacity of the M27 between junctions 4 and 12. The needs of the trunk road network are kept under constant review, and schemes may be added to the programme as needs are identified.
501WDirective 85/337/EEC applies to projects likely to have a significant effect on the environment. All schemes in the national programme are subject to full environmental appraisal. Environmental Statements have been or will be published where the environmental impact is judged to be significant within the terms of the EC directive.