§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport which statutory bodies will be involved in evaluating the potential environmental impacts of(a) route improvements to the A21 between Kippings Cross and Robertsbridge and (b) the building of the A259 Bexhill-Hastings link road. [126426]
§ Mr. JamiesonIn designing and evaluating potential road schemes, the Highways Agency works closely with the four statutory environmental bodies: the Environment Agency, English Nature, English Heritage and the Countryside Agency. The Local Transport Plan guidance places a similar requirement on local authorities bringing forward bids for major road and public transport schemes.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received concerning the(a) projected cost and (b) timeframe of building an A259 Bexhill-Hastings link road; [126428]
(2) what representations he has received (a) in favour and (b) against the building of the A259 Bexhill-Hastings link road. [126427]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Secretary of State has received a number of representations from individuals and bodies about this scheme. Among those in favour are the South East of England Regional Assembly, the South East of
620WEngland Development Agency, East Sussex county council and some business organisations in the area. The four statutory environmental bodies are among those that have expressed concern over the proposal. The representation from the regional assembly asked that all study recommendations should be progressed quickly. The Secretary of State has asked East Sussex county council to progress the scheme in close liaison with the statutory environmental bodies.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received concerning the A21 from(a) Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst and (b) Flimwell to Robertsbridge. [126429]
§ Mr. JamiesonBy the closing date (24 March 2003) of the public consultation on these two improvements a total of 905 completed questionnaires and 341 letters had been received. As the questionnaire related to both schemes it is not possible to give figures for the split between the two schemes, however, 327 of the letters related to the Flimwell to Robertsbridge section with 14 related to the Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst section. After the closing date a further 31 letters were received, 24 related to Flimwell to Robertsbridge and seven to the Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst. In addition, a 1,540 signature petition and 159 responses from a questionnaire organised by Hurst Green parish council were also received. Responses were also received from all the local authorities along the route and from statutory and non-statutory environmental bodies.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the expected start date is for road improvements on the A21 from(a) Kippings Cross to Lamberhurst and (b) Flimwell to Robertsbridge. [126432]
§ Mr. JamiesonThese schemes are not yet in the Government's Targeted Programme of Improvements (TPI). A public consultation exercise was held recently and a report is expected from the Highways Agency in the autumn. We will make an announcement on these improvements following consideration of the report. If it is decided that either of these schemes should enter the TPI the announcement will include likely start dates.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement on progress made by(a) East Sussex county council and (b) statutory environmental bodies in developing the A259 Bexhill-Hastings link road scheme, with particular reference to environmental considerations; [126433]
(2) what discussions the Department has held with (a) East Sussex county council and (b) statutory environmental bodies on environmental considerations in developing the A259 Bexhill-Hastings link road scheme. [126434]
§ Mr. JamiesonOn the 9 July 2003, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport invited East Sussex county council to develop proposals for Bexhill to Hastings Link Road, working closely with the statutory environmental bodies during the process.
My officials will be discussing details with East Sussex county council in the near future on how to take this work forward.
621W
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list new road construction schemes in East Sussex which have been allocated for design, build, finance and operate funding; and what the estimated cost of construction is at current prices. [126444]
§ Mr. JamiesonThere are currently no new road construction schemes in East Sussex which have been allocated for design build finance and operate funding.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual expenditure of his Department on public local inquiries in East Sussex was in each of the last 10 years; on what dates each inquiry was held; and what the cost was in each year. [126445]
§ Mr. JamiesonOne public local inquiry into road schemes has been held in East Sussex in the last 10 years. This inquiry was into three separate draft proposals on the A259 between Pevensey and Guestling Thorn including bypasses of Bexhill and Hastings and was held between October 1995 and July 1996. The estimated cost was in the region of £1 million.
§ Gregory BarkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements are planned for the A259 over the next three years. [126446]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe section of the A259 between Brenzett and Folkestone will be detrunked in September this year, with responsibility for the identification and implementation of any future improvements being transferred to Kent county council. The remaining sections of the A259 trunk road, east of Hastings to Brenzett and west of Hastings to Pevensey, will remain the responsibility of the Highways Agency. A route management strategy is being prepared for these sections of the route, which will identify future local improvements. Improvements in future years will be dependent on the availability of funding.
There are seven improvement schemes programmed for the current financial year. These are:
Safety Schemes
Barnhorn Gateway, Bexhill—Provision of right turn facility, cycleways and gateway signingWinchelsea Signs ReviewAccessibility Schemes
Bexhill—Provision of controlled crossing as part of Safer Routes to School initiativeBexhill Bus Stops—Increase in kerb heights to facilitate disabled accessDe la Warr Road/King Offa Way Junction, Bexhill— Improvements to signals to aid right-turn and pedestrian movementsRoad Renewal Schemes
Ferry Hill Landslip Remediation, WinchelseaStrand Bridge to Harbour Road, Winchelsea to RyeIn addition to the above works, a number of studies of potential improvements to safety, the environment and integration are also being carried out.