§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the implications for the A650 Bingley relief road of the withdrawal of the scheme for the A650 Saltaire relief road tunnel; [15919]
(2) what is the timetable of the private finance initiative for the A650 Bingley relief road with particular reference to tendering, construction and completion dates; [15917]
(3) what environmental conditions will attach to the contract for the A650 Bingley relief road; [15918]
110W(4) what savings he expects for his Department arising out of the A650 Bingley relief road falling under the private finance initiative. [15922]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 19 February 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 20 February 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions on the A650 Bingley Relief Road.You will have seen from the Secretary of State's announcement on the Road Programme on 28 November 1995 that this scheme has been included in the Private Finance Initiative as a further Design, Build, Finance and Operate project.Tenders are expected to be invited this Summer with a start on site during the 1997/98 financial year. Completion of the project will be approximately 3 years later.Although there are no funds available for the Saltaire Tunnel, the need to continue with the Bingley Relief Road is undiminished.All commitments about environmental conditions given in the Environmental Statement, which was published in February 1989, and again at subsequent Public Inquiries, will be included within the contract.Design, Build, Finance and Operate has thus far shown to offer value for money when compared with the public sector alternative. Private Finance and management expertise will enable this scheme to be provided more quickly and more efficiently than would have been possible if it had to wait its turn as a publicly financed scheme.
§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what options are available to property owners suffering blight from the aborted A650 Saltaire relief road tunnel. [15921]
§ Mr. Watts[holding answer 19 February 1996]: The threat of blight has been removed by the withdrawal of the scheme from the trunk road programme.