HC Deb 13 May 1994 vol 243 cc280-1W
Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what features have been incorporated into the design of the Swainswick bypass to minimise the environmental impact on Solsbury hill;

Mr. Key

[holding answer 12 May 1994]: We have avoided Little Solsbury hill routeing the new road some 500 m west of the summit and we have minimised the land taken for this bypass. In addition, we intend to plant many thousands of indigenous trees and shrubs in this locality and throughout the scheme, both on-site and off, to mitigate the effects of the route on the landscape.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his latest estimates of the costs of the Swainswick and Batheaston bypasses; how these differ from earlier estimates; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 12 May 1994]: Our latest estimate was contained in the recently published "Trunk Roads in England 1994 Review" as £75.2 million. In 1990, at the time of the public inquiry, we estimated the cost at £59.1 million.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for incorporating the A46/A36 route from Southampton to the M4 into the trans-European network, for developing it as a motorway link.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 12 May 1994]: None.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the reasons for making the Swainswick and Batheaston bypasses dual rather than single carriageway.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 12 May 1994]: A single carriageway road would not be adequate for the amount of traffic using this trunk route.

Mr. Don Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria would justify the reopening of a public inquiry into a road improvement scheme after a decision by him; what procedures would need to be followed to request such a move; and if he will make a statement;

(2) on how many occasions within the last 10 years following a decision by the Secretary of State after a public inquiry into a road improvement scheme the inquiry has been reopened; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Key

[holding answer 12 May 1994]: There have been no such instances of an inquiry being re-opened after my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Transport and for the Environment have announced their decision on a road improvement scheme. Indeed, there are no provisions for re-opening an inquiry in such an event. There are, however, certain circumstances, under the provisions of the Highways (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1976, whereby an inquiry can be re-opened before a final decision on a scheme is made.