HL Deb 26 October 1998 vol 593 c193WA
Viscount Brentford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State, Department of Transport (the Earl of Caithness) on 24 March 1993 (WA 13), how many accidents involving fatalities and other injuries, respectively, have occurred in the last three years on the two single carriageway lengths of the A.21 trunk road between the southern end of the Tonbridge Bypass and Scotney Castle, south of Lamberhurst; and what steps they propose to take to reduce this level of accidents. [HL3455]

Lord Whitty

During the three-year period 1 January 1995 to 31 December 1997, there were reports of three accidents involving fatalities, 22 involving serious injuries and 88 involving slight injuries on the two single carriageway lengths (5.9 miles) of the A.21 trunk road between the southern end of the Tonbridge Bypass and Scotney Castle, south of Lamberhurst. There are both long- and short-term proposals for improving the safety of these lengths of road. Following the Roads Review, the A.21 Lamberhurst Bypass has been included in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI). The Government are committed to starting all TPI schemes within the next seven years. Details of timings are being worked on at present and will be announced as soon as possible. Congestion and safety problems on the A.21 between Tonbridge and Pembury will be considered by the "Access to Hastings" study announced in the Roads Review. It is too early to say when this study is likely to proceed but we will be consulting the South East Regional Planning Conference shortly about the proposed multi-modal study programme and the remit for the "Access to Hastings" study. The Highways Agency is also carrying out a feasibility study for smaller scale safety improvements south of Kippings Cross.