Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission a study into the viability of a rail link between Oxford and Witney.
Answered by Paul Maynard
A study into the options for re-opening the rail route from Witney to Yarnton to connect with the Oxford to Worcester has already been carried out by Oxfordshire County Council to inform its “Investing in the A40 - Long Term Strategy Consultation Report” published in May 2016.
We believe that local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) are best placed to carry out further studies and consider whether a rail re-opening is the best way to meet local transport needs.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding his Department makes available to assist with measures to limit noise from rail lines.
Answered by Paul Maynard
Although my department does not have specific funding to assist with measures to limit noise from rail lines, Network Rail identifies and mitigates noise impacts as a standard part of its project planning and delivery processes. This includes requiring suppliers to demonstrate that they are designing to minimise the impact of noise and vibration during both construction and operation.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to improve the information and advice it provides to hauliers and businesses affected when operation of the port of Calais is disrupted.
Answered by John Hayes
Highways England has placed additional monitoring and variable messaging signs equipment across the motorways and major trunk road of Kent. This enables both Kent Police and Highways England to dynamically manage traffic flows and provide up to date messaging for drivers.
This is enabled by additional temporary mobile Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) which has been deployed on M2, M20, A20, A229, A249 and A299 to supplement Highways England’s existing cameras. Sensors have been deployed at strategic points on the M20 and at the contingency site at Manston Airfield for lorry counting purposes.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission an urgent review of safety on the A34.
Answered by John Hayes
Highways England regularly reviews safety issues on all routes on the strategic road network and it currently has plans to install new technical measures on the A34, as one of the schemes in the Road Investment Strategy, to ease congestion and improve safety and incident management. The Department is not minded to carry out a further review at this time.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what safety improvements are planned for the A34; and what the planned date of completion is for each such improvement.
Answered by John Hayes
Highways England has a major scheme planned for the A34 to ease congestion, improve safety and incident management between the M4 junction at Chievely and the M40 junction at Wendlebury. Vehicle detection loops (in the road) will detect when traffic is building or slowing down to help operate traffic signals and activate electronic message signs. CCTV cameras and driver information systems will be installed at key locations along the A34 between the M4 and the M40. Highways England intends to start work by March 2020.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what safety improvements have been undertaken on the A34 in the last five years.
Answered by John Hayes
In the last five years Highways England has carried out twelve specific safety schemes on the A34.
The Gore Hill HGV restriction scheme started as a trial in 2010 and was made permanent in September 2011 because of its success in reducing accidents.
Between 2011 and 2012, Highways England completed four safety schemes, namely the Botley Northbound Merge Improvements, Whitchurch Directional Signing, Winnal Layby Improvement, and the Oxford Resurfacing Scheme. The layby and directional signs needed bringing up to current standards to improve safety.
Between 2014 and 2015, Highways England completed seven safety schemes, namely Kingsworthy Layby Improvement, Whitchurch Direction Signs Upgrade, A34/M3 Junction 9 Deer Vehicle Collisions Mitigation, A34 Passively Safe Signs, A34 Roadworker Safety, A34/M40 Junction 9 Wendlebury (Phase 2), and Didcot Drainage Maintenance. The drainage maintenance scheme was necessary to reduce the risk of future flooding between the A4130 Milton Interchange and the A4185 Chilton junction.
Numerous Renewals, Structures and Technology schemes have been delivered on the A34 in the past five years and these schemes have had an inherent safety aspect inbuilt.
Asked by: Andrew Smith (Labour - Oxford East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve the safety of and access for horse riders on roads and bridlepaths.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Department takes every opportunity to remind motorists of their responsibilities towards vulnerable road users - including horse riders - through publications such as the Highway Code and THINK! Road Safety campaigns. THINK! officials are currently working with the British Horse Society following their recently launched ‘Dead Slow’ campaign. Plans for the summer include publicity on TV, radio, online and social media advising motorists on how to pass horses safely.
We do not provide advice on access to bridleways, as this falls within the remit of Natural England (a non-departmental public body).