HC Deb 27 July 2000 vol 354 cc785-7W
Mr. Hunter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy to use quieter surfacing when resurfacing the M3 between junctions five and seven becomes necessary. [132344]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 24 July 2000]Our 10 year strategy for transport, Transport 2010—The 10 Year Plan, has been published and sets out proposals for dealing with road noise, including the provision of quieter surfaces on over 60 per cent. of the network, including all concrete surfaces.

I have asked the Highways Agency to draw up a programme for all such trunk roads for agreement. Junctions five to seven of the M3 will be included in this programme.

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many bypasses will be constructed during the course of the Transport 2010 10 year plan within(a) the strategic road network and (b) other routes; and if he will make a statement; [132507]

(2) what public funding will be available for the construction of bypasses outside the strategic road network in the next 10 years. [132508]

Mr. Hill

The Secretary of State announced last Thursday our 10 year plan, Transport 2010, setting out the resources to be made available to fund our integrated transport policies. Included in the plan is funding which will allow 30 bypasses on the core network, at a cost of around £600 million, and over 70 bypasses on the local road network to be built over the 10-year period. Specific schemes will need to be brought forward through the regional planning system in the case of trunk roads or the local transport plan system in the case of local roads. Schemes will also have to be appraised using the New Approach to Appraisal.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the Highways Agency to resurface the A46 at Harvington, Worcestershire, with a low-noise road surface. [131835]

Mr. Hill

Our ten year strategy for transport, "Transport 2010—The 10 Year Plan", has been published and sets out proposals for dealing with road noise, including the provision of quieter surfaces on over 60 per cent. of the network, including all concrete surfaces.

I have asked the Highways Agency to draw up a programme for all such trunk roads for agreement. The A46 at Harvington will be included in this programme.

Mr. Luff

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will instruct the Highways Agency to resurface the M5 at Whittington, Worcestershire, with a low-noise road surface. [131834]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 25 July 2000]Our ten year strategy for transport, "Transport 2010—The 10 Year Plan", has been published and sets out proposals for dealing with road noise, including the provision of quieter surfaces on over 60 per cent. of the network, including all concrete surfaces.

I have asked the Highways Agency to draw up a programme for all such trunk roads for agreement. The M5 at Whittington will be included in this programme.

Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the nature was of the test carried out on the A30 before the decision was taken to resurface it on account of noise nuisance; and how much the resurfacing work will cost. [132650]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 25 July 2000]The tests comprised a period of continuous noise monitoring at six locations agreed with the "Resurface the A30" Campaign Group, in order to compare the actual noise levels with those predicted at the Public Inquiry into the scheme.

Our 10-year strategy for transport, "Transport 2010—The 10 Year Plan", has been published and sets out proposals for dealing with road noise, including the provision of quieter surfaces on over 60 per cent. of the network, including all concrete surfaces.

I have asked the Highways Agency to draw up a programme for all such trunk roads for agreement. The A30 Honiton to Exeter Improvement will be included in this programme.

Mr. McLoughlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will carry out noise tests on the A50 at Doveridge, Derbyshire; what estimate he has made of the cost of resurfacing that section of the road; and if he will instruct the Highways Agency to carry out this work. [132651]

Mr. Hill

[holding answer 25 July 2000]As part of the 10-year Plan for Transport announced last week, we will resurface all concrete-surfaced trunk roads with quieter materials.

I have asked the Highways Agency to draw up a programme for all such trunk roads for agreement. The A50 at Doveridge will be included in this programme. No detailed estimate of the cost of resurfacing the A50 at Doveridge exists.