PETER
VIGGERS, MP FOR THE GOSPORT CONSTITUENCY, yesterday highlighted
the problems of traffic congestion on the peninsula and
pressed the Government for a statement on the transport
infrastructure in the region. He also secured an assurance
that Hampshire County Council representatives would have
an opportunity to meet with Ministers to discuss the way
ahead for the vetoed South Hampshire Rapid Transit Scheme.
The full text of the exchange is given below:
Transport
Infrastructure (South Hampshire)
Peter
Viggers (Gosport) (Con): If he will make a statement on
the transport infrastructure in south Hampshire.
The
Minister of State, Department for Transport (Dr. Stephen
Ladyman): We are aware that local authorities in south
Hampshire have ambitious plans for growth. We look forward
to seeing their proposals to support that in their new
local transport plan.
Peter
Viggers: Is the Minister aware that 38,000 people on the
Gosport peninsula have jobs, but that there are only 19,000
jobs on the peninsula? The result, of course, is a tidal
flow of traffic out and in every day, which causes intense
frustration for people stuck in that slow-moving traffic
jam. The Government encouraged Hampshire county council
to consider a light rapid transit scheme and then turned
the idea down flat. They refused to compensate the council
and its council tax payers for the costs incurred. When
will there be a new Minister for local transport who will
honour the promise that there would be a meeting with the
county council to discuss the way ahead? What chances are
there of improvement and will the Government fund it?
Dr.
Ladyman: On the south Hampshire rapid transit scheme, the
Government said in March 2001 that we would consider it
but that the public contribution had to be capped at £170
million. That cost had risen by £100 million by 2003.
In 2005, south Hampshire produced a much reduced scheme
costing £250
million-odd at today's prices. That increase in costs is
not sustainable and that was why the Government were not
prepared to back the scheme any further. Of course we are
prepared to meet the local council to talk about these
issues and to try to find a constructive way forward. We
have made that offer already and look forward with great
interest to studying the council's further plans.
Peter
Viggers said afterwards, “The issue of congestion
on local roads is one which residents raise with me more
frequently than any other. I am pleased that the Minister
is prepared to discuss these problems with local representatives,
and particularly pleased that Hampshire County Council
will have the opportunity to discuss a way forward for
the LRT scheme.
“The highest priority of all is an
improvement of road access. Hampshire will need the support
of Government in any road scheme costing more than £5m.
The estimate for a Stubbington bypass is about £35m
and Government needs to include this in its forward planning.” |
