§ Mr. Damian GreenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provisions he has made in his departmental budget for the spending entailed in the Sustainable Communities plan in and around Ashford; and if he will make a statement. [98637]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Highways Agency is promoting improvements to the existing junction 10 of the M20 with the costs fully covered by the developers. Further planned growth at Ashford will be facilitated by a new junction to the south of the existing junction 10 and the and the Secretary of State has asked the Highways Agency to investigate the feasibility of its provision.
In addition some £5.2 billion of public and private investment is already being made available to complete the channel tunnel rail link which will greatly improve the accessibility of Ashford.