HC Deb 16 June 1992 vol 209 c486W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the role of his Department's officials who attended the Suffolk county and Waveney district joint members' and officers' meeting in Lowestoft on 9 June about the A12 proposals within Lowestoft; and what information the officials were to deliver to the meeting about timing.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 15 June 1992]: The meeting was one of a series of regular exchanges of information and views on transport issues. The Department's officials were able to report that public consultation on alternative routes for the improved Pakefield to Kessingland section of the Al2, the Lowestoft relief road scheme, was planned for later this year.

Mr. David Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on the timing of consultation, design and building he now expects to take place in fulfilment of commitments in the White Paper "Roads to Prosperity" for the Al2 in Waveney, from Blythburgh to Kessingland, from Kessingland to Bloodmoor road, and from Bloodmoor road to Pleasurewood; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what are his plans for keeping the hon. Member for Waveney informed about changes on planning, timing, consultation and construction he is proposing in the dualling of the A12 from Ipswich to Great Yarmouth since the publication of the White Paper, "Roads to Prosperity", and since statements made in the last Parliament by his predecessor.

Mr. Kenneth Carlisle

[holding answer 15 June 1992]: Schemes to improve the Al2 are at different stages in their development. The present programme for consultation is:

Blythburgh to south of Wrentham late 1993
South of Wrentham to Kessingland late 1992
Lowestoft inner relief road
Kessingland to Bloodmoor road section late 1992

A preferred route was announced for the Bloodmoor road to Pleasurewood section of Lowestoft inner relief road in November 1990.

The timing of subsequent stages will depend on the satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of funds.

The hon. Member will be informed as a matter of course at the key stages of public consultation, order publication, public inquiry, when the decision is announced following the inquiry and when construction is due to start.