HC Deb 18 March 2002 vol 382 cc30-1W
Mr. Liddell-Grainger

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans the Government have for road improvement in Somerset. [43400]

Mr. Jamieson

The following Trunk Road schemes in Somerset were remitted to the London to the South West and South Wales Multi Modal (SWARMMS) Study:

  1. (a) the A303 Sparkford to Ilchester improvement
  2. (b) the A303 Ilminster By-pass widening to dual-carriageway
  3. (c) the A303 Ilminster to Marsh improvement.

The Study findings are due to be reported to the Regional Assembly in early May 2002. It is up to the Regional Assembly to recommend to the Minister which schemes, if any, should he added to the Highways Agency's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI).

Other Major Schemes being progressed by Somerset county council as part of their Local Transport Plan strategies but partly funded by central government are: The Bridgwater Northern Distributor Road, which is nearing completion. The North West Taunton Package—Silk Mills, which has provisional approval The Taunton Inner Relief Road, which has received funding for 2002–03 to enable design to be progressed.

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