§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) when construction work is scheduled to commence on the Lamberhurst Bypass in Kent; [90078]
(2) when detailed plans for the landscaping and design of the Lamberhurst Bypass will be published; [90079]
(3) [n which dates the last traffic surveys were carried out at the western end of the Pembury bypass on the A21 in Kent; and when the Government plan to carry out the next traffic survey at the western end of the Pembury bypass on the A21 in Kent. [90080]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to the hon. Gentleman.
13WLetter from Peter Nutt to Mr. Archie Norman, dated 12 July 1999:
The Transport Minister, Glenda Jackson, has asked the Chief Executive, Lawrie Haynes, to answer your recent Parliamentary Questions about the A21 Lamberhurst Bypass and traffic surveys at the western end of the A21 Pembury Bypass. I am replying in Lawrie's absence from the office.In December last year Lord Whitty announced that the design and build contract for Lamberhurst Bypass would be let in the financial year 2001/02. That is the earliest practicable date having regard to the available funding and allowing for the outstanding processes. Those processes include finalising the arrangements for consultancy advice to the Highways Agency on the scheme and acquiring the land needed.Landscaping proposals for the Lamberhurst Bypass were included in the Environmental Statement published in 1992 and then examined at the public inquiry later that year. I am sending you separately appropriate material from that time. Detailed final design will be undertaken by the company who are awarded the contract to build the bypass, though they will be required to do this within the constraints of the Environmental Statement. Their detailed landscaping and design plans would be available for inspection at public exhibitions just before the start of works on site, and plans would be finalised in consultation with the affected landowners and other appropriate bodies. I will send you copies of these plans when available.Turning to your request for traffic information at the western end of the Pembury Bypass, traffic data were collected only up to and including 1992 during the development of the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury dualling scheme. However, traffic surveys are to be included in a study of the operational performance of the roundabout at the western end of the Pembury Bypass which we hope to be carried out towards the end of this financial year. Following the results of the main roads review announced in 1998, this scheme is now to be considered by the Regional Planning Conference as part of the Access to Hastings multi-modal study.