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Transport: Eco-Towns

Volume 490: debated on Monday 23 March 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department has had with the promoters of the Whitehill Bordon eco-town on (a) transport costs in the initial years of the development, (b) the (i) viability and (ii) cost of the proposed A325 fast bus link works and (c) levels of car use in the area. (265279)

To date, the Department for Transport has had no discussion with the promoters of the Whitehill Bordon eco-town on the specific issues to which the question refers. The transport strategy for Whitehill Bordon is still in its early stages of development. Department for Transport officials continue to be informed of its progress and, should the town be included in the list of preferred sites to be announced later this year, it is anticipated that further discussions will then take place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his Department and its agencies have had with the developers of the Ford Airfield eco-town development on (a) a bypass on the A27, (b) a link from the site to the A259 and (c) the development's rail strategy. (265280)

The Highways Agency is holding discussions with the promoters of Ford eco-town and other stakeholders to identify appropriate measures to address the current issues on the A27. This will primarily be based on the provision of sustainable travel initiatives with additional road capacity as a last resort.

Previous proposals for a bypass for Arundel, as recommended in the South Coast Multi-modal Study (2004), were rejected by the then Secretary of State for Transport as being too environmentally damaging. The promoters of the eco-town have been asked to develop proposals on the basis that such a bypass would not be constructed.

Any link from the site to the A259 would be a local road, and therefore an issue for the local highway authority, in this case West Sussex county council. The Highways Agency has therefore not been involved in any such discussion.

There has been no direct engagement between Department for Transport officials and the promoters for Ford eco-town on rail issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) his Department and (b) Network Rail have had with the developers of the St. Austell eco-town development on a rail strategy for the site. (265281)

The Department for Transport has had no discussions with the developers of the St. Austell eco-town development on a rail strategy for the site. Network Rail has received one presentation from the developers on the proposals for the site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Highways Agency have had with the developers of the St. Austell eco-town development on the proposed improvements to the A391; and if he will make a statement. (265282)

The Department for Transport and Highways Agency have not had direct contact with the developers of the St. Austell eco-town as the main coordination of this large project is being led by Cornwall county council. The department and Highways Agency are in regular discussions with the council and are working collectively to improve the transport proposals associated with the eco-town development.