§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bypasses have been removed from the trunk road and motorway improvements programme since May 1997. [114977]
§ Mr. HillOur 1997–98 review of the programme resulted in the outright cancellation of two bypass proposals because of their impact on environmentally sensitive areas: the A36 Salisbury bypass and the A49 Hereford bypass. Three bypass schemes dropped before May 1997 were reinstated in our targeted programme of improvements, which includes a total of 19 schemes that will provide bypasses for local communities. A number of other bypass schemes were remitted to studies, regional planning bodies and, in the case of schemes on routes proposed for de-trunking, to local highway authorities for consideration as part of their local transport plans. Full details of all our review decisions are given in "A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England".