Sites of Special Scientific Interest (Hansard, 23 November 1994)

§ Mr. Watts

These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms. Joan Walley, dated 23 November 1994: The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr. Watts has asked me: to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about the protection it is proposed to give to a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSS1) affected by proposed schemes to improve the A259 trunk road between Pevensey and Rye in East Sussex. The proposed A259 Pevensey-Bexhill Improvement would involve the construction of a new second carriageway generally on the north side of the existing road. The widening has been designed to minimise the impact on the Pevensey levels SSS1. The proposals include the creation of about 2.5 ha of new woodland and scrub habitat and over 5000 metres of new ditch. The new planting would increase the habitat available to reed and sedge warblers and the new length of ditch would substantially increase the aquatic habitat. Arrangements would be made to rescue and relocate, as far as possible, any important plan specimens before construction started. An improved drainage system would better control run-off from the road. The proposals for the A259 Bexhill and Hastings Western Bypass include a high viaduct across Combe Haven, instead of an embankment, to minimise landtake and reduce the impact on the SSSI. Special measures would be taken to keep damage during construction to a minimum and to restore the area as far as possible. Large scale planting of native trees and shrubs to reflect local conditions would be carried out. Elsewhere along the scheme, the development of wetland habitats in ditches and storage ponds would help replace lost habitats. Detailed proposals for minimising the A259 Dymchurch-M20 scheme on the Roughs SSS1 have been made available to the public inquiry which is underway at present. These include measures to replicate, as far as possible, existing conditions. This would include grading the earthworks to match existing gradients and re-using soils 189W and local seed sources to encourage the re-establishment of a varied species rich grassland. At the top of the cutting, a near vertical rock face would be created. Rocks with a particular good cover of lichens and mosses would be set aside during the contract to be replaced on the new rock face. Translocation of tree bark would also be carried out with a view to recolonising trees in the area. Road drainage would be kept separate from ground water issuing from the cuttings. The ground water would be diverted into existing streams to help maintain their natural habitats. The preferred route for the A259 Rye Bypass has not yet been designed in detail and will, in any event, be subject to review as part of the A259 Guestling Thorn to east of Rye Planning Conference. As presently envisaged, the route would be placed in tunnel where it crosses the Camber Sands and Rye Saltings SSS1. The salt marsh is expected to recover quickly once construction is complete. The Rye Harbour and Walland Marsh SSS1s would be affected by the route but an objective of the detailed design will be to keep its impact to the minimum possible. Where appropriate, the proposed protection measures referred to above have been developed in consultation with English Nature and the National Rivers Authority. On the A35 Chideock-Morcombelake Bypass, this scheme has recently been fully debated and examined at a public inquiry and it would not be proper for me to comment on the Minister's behalf at this stage. The Inspector will submit his report and recommendations to the Secretaries of State for Transport and the Environment in due course.