The A36 is a critical route between Southampton and Bath/Bristol. A study was completed several months ago. Given the decision on the A303 tunnel just north of Salisbury, will the appropriate Minister meet me so that we can discuss connectivity and remove the pinch-point on the Southampton Road south of Salisbury on the A36?

The A36 is a critical route between Southampton and Bath/Bristol. A study was completed several months ago. Given the decision on the A303 tunnel just north of Salisbury, will the appropriate Minister meet me so that we can discuss connectivity and remove the pinch-point on the Southampton Road south of Salisbury on the A36?

I would be very happy to meet the right hon. Member to discuss that.

I would be very happy to meet the right hon. Member to discuss that.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on minimising disruption to local residents and businesses during the closure of the A36 at Limpley Stoke.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has had recent discussions with National Highways on minimising disruption to local residents and businesses during the closure of the A36 at Limpley Stoke.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Cleveland Bridge in Bath is on the A36 Primary Route.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Cleveland Bridge in Bath is on the A36 Primary Route.

Good evening, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am very grateful to have been granted this debate on the future of Cleveland bridge, which is of high importance for my constituents in Bath. I look forward to the Minister’s full response.

Cleveland bridge is a grade II* listed structure. It forms part of...

Good evening, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am very grateful to have been granted this debate on the future of Cleveland bridge, which is of high importance for my constituents in Bath. I look forward to the Minister’s full response.

Cleveland bridge is a grade II* listed structure. It forms part of...

Next year will see the very latest technology deployed to save the 1920s concrete structure. The danger is that bringing back the heaviest lorries will hasten the collapse of the deck, destroying the listed

asset forever. With continuing heavy lorries, it is estimated that the current repairs may last for...

Next year will see the very latest technology deployed to save the 1920s concrete structure. The danger is that bringing back the heaviest lorries will hasten the collapse of the deck, destroying the listed

asset forever. With continuing heavy lorries, it is estimated that the current repairs may last for...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) on securing the debate. I know that Cleveland bridge, that iconic grade II* listed structure, which she has described in great detail and very eloquently, built in 1826, is of great significance to her constituents, and indeed the nation. As she...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) on securing the debate. I know that Cleveland bridge, that iconic grade II* listed structure, which she has described in great detail and very eloquently, built in 1826, is of great significance to her constituents, and indeed the nation. As she...

I thank the Minister for elaborating on the funds that are available. As I mentioned in my speech, the problem is that if the bridge continues to have heavy goods vehicles on it even after the repair, it will very quickly need repairs again. Is it not a false economy...

I thank the Minister for elaborating on the funds that are available. As I mentioned in my speech, the problem is that if the bridge continues to have heavy goods vehicles on it even after the repair, it will very quickly need repairs again. Is it not a false economy...

I thank the hon. Member for her questions. I assure her that I will address those points—I hope, to her satisfaction. I have a copy of her letter to the Department with me.

We know that road condition, particularly the quality of road surfaces, is a concern for all road users,...

I thank the hon. Member for her questions. I assure her that I will address those points—I hope, to her satisfaction. I have a copy of her letter to the Department with me.

We know that road condition, particularly the quality of road surfaces, is a concern for all road users,...

I thank the Minister for the detailed description of what is taking place now, but, as I said in my remarks, this will take years, and in the meantime the people of Bath have an 18-tonne weight restriction on the bridge. Why can the Department not allow Bath and North...

I thank the Minister for the detailed description of what is taking place now, but, as I said in my remarks, this will take years, and in the meantime the people of Bath have an 18-tonne weight restriction on the bridge. Why can the Department not allow Bath and North...

I thank the hon. Lady for her questions and her persistence. I have no doubt that the relevant stakeholders, including the local highway authorities, will be listening with great interest when they come to make their deliberations on these really important issues for the people of Bath.

In closing, I have...

I thank the hon. Lady for her questions and her persistence. I have no doubt that the relevant stakeholders, including the local highway authorities, will be listening with great interest when they come to make their deliberations on these really important issues for the people of Bath.

In closing, I have...

Motion lapsed. Motion made and Question proposed, that this House do now adjourn. Agreed to on question.

Motion lapsed. Motion made and Question proposed, that this House do now adjourn. Agreed to on question.

Construction of a A36-46 link road, east of Bath

The petition of residents of Bath and the wider North East Somerset Area,

Declares that transport networks in Bath need improvement to reduce congestion in the area; further that a link road between the A36 and A46 should be built; further that an...

Construction of a A36-46 link road, east of Bath

The petition of residents of Bath and the wider North East Somerset Area,

Declares that transport networks in Bath need improvement to reduce congestion in the area; further that a link road between the A36 and A46 should be built; further that an...

Construction of an A36-46 link road, east of Bath

I am grateful to be able to present a petition to the House tonight on the construction of an A36-46 link road, east of Bath. I present the petition on behalf of residents of Bath and the wider north-east Somerset area. The...

Construction of an A36-46 link road, east of Bath

I am grateful to be able to present a petition to the House tonight on the construction of an A36-46 link road, east of Bath. I present the petition on behalf of residents of Bath and the wider north-east Somerset area. The...

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Some people think that if we care about air quality there is no room for any road building, but, of course, stationary traffic pollutes much more than moving traffic. We must make sure that the arteries that serve all our constituencies are open, and I will look carefully at what my hon. Friend has said. However, we should also recognise that air quality is improving. Nitrogen oxide levels have fallen by 17% over the last four years, and we want to do more by introducing the clean air programme.

My hon. Friend makes an important point. Some people think that if we care about air quality there is no room for any road building, but, of course, stationary traffic pollutes much more than moving traffic. We must make sure that the arteries that serve all our constituencies are open, and I will look carefully at what my hon. Friend has said. However, we should also recognise that air quality is improving. Nitrogen oxide levels have fallen by 17% over the last four years, and we want to do more by introducing the clean air programme.

Q4

.

Ben Howlett (Bath) (Con):

As the Prime Minister will know from getting stuck on his way into Bath just before the general election last year, my constituency is plagued by high air pollution levels and by congestion. Given the Government’s commitment to investing billions of pounds in infrastructure—something that the Labour Government failed to do in 13 years—will he consider committing himself to looking at the construction of the long overdue and much-needed missing A36/A46 link road to the east of my constituency?

Q4

.

Ben Howlett (Bath) (Con):

As the Prime Minister will know from getting stuck on his way into Bath just before the general election last year, my constituency is plagued by high air pollution levels and by congestion. Given the Government’s commitment to investing billions of pounds in infrastructure—something that the Labour Government failed to do in 13 years—will he consider committing himself to looking at the construction of the long overdue and much-needed missing A36/A46 link road to the east of my constituency?

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Highways Agency spent £449,000 on work associated with the construction of the roundabout on the A36 at Ower in New Forest East constituency; for what reasons the roundabout has not been built; and if she will break down...

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Highways Agency spent £449,000 on work associated with the construction of the roundabout on the A36 at Ower in New Forest East constituency; for what reasons the roundabout has not been built; and if she will break down...

That can be raised with Ministers in the Department for Transport; no doubt the hon. Gentleman has done so. Highways, particularly the ones that he mentioned, are a huge issue in the south-west. That is partly why it is important that we come forward with our proposals for regional committees...

That can be raised with Ministers in the Department for Transport; no doubt the hon. Gentleman has done so. Highways, particularly the ones that he mentioned, are a huge issue in the south-west. That is partly why it is important that we come forward with our proposals for regional committees...

May we have a debate on the Highways Agency's investment in trunk roads in the south-west? I have often drawn attention to the safety improvements that are necessary on the A303, but may I also highlight the A36, particularly the stretch that runs through Standerwick, climbs over Black Dog hill,...

May we have a debate on the Highways Agency's investment in trunk roads in the south-west? I have often drawn attention to the safety improvements that are necessary on the A303, but may I also highlight the A36, particularly the stretch that runs through Standerwick, climbs over Black Dog hill,...

The policy of transferring to local highway authorities the responsibility for trunk roads that are considered to be non-core was first set out in the White Paper ““A New Deal for Transport””, published in July 1998 (Cm 3950). Following advice from the Highways Agency, informed by discussions with the relevant...

The policy of transferring to local highway authorities the responsibility for trunk roads that are considered to be non-core was first set out in the White Paper ““A New Deal for Transport””, published in July 1998 (Cm 3950). Following advice from the Highways Agency, informed by discussions with the relevant...