§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury of 25 February 2001,Official Report, column 817W, for what reasons de-trunking negotiations on the A36(T) have been put on hold until early 2003. [43304]
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§ Mr. JamiesonThe Secretary of State confirmed in February 2002 that following placement of an objection to de-trunking of the A46/A36 by the South West Regional Assembly a further study into the management of the route and the traffic problems related to the route in Bath would be commissioned shortly. Formal appointment of a consultant to undertake the work is progressing with interviews of those firms shortlisted taking place soon. Not until this study had been completed, December 2002 in the current programme, would Bath and North East Somerset Council agree to continue with de-trunking negotiations.
There are four other local authorities involved in taking over sections of the route on satisfactory completion of de-trunking negotiations. No serious obstacles to completing negotiations successfully with these remaining four authorities have been identified. Although this might suggest that a piecemeal de-trunking of the route is possible this would not be in the public interest nor would this course of action answer the Regional Assembly's objection.