§ Mr. RendelTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the clearance work being carried out for the Newbury bypass is on schedule; and if the targets and deadlines for clearance work will be met. [19667]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 11 March 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary question asking if clearance work being carried out for the Newbury bypass is on schedule; and if the targets and deadlines for clearance work will be met.
We are broadly on schedule despite the efforts of the protestors. Good progress is being made with felling the trees and shrubs. We may need to carry some work over into the main contract later this year, but we do not anticipate any delays to that contract.