Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people in Leicestershire have (a) applied and (b) had an application accepted for compensation under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Jones
Exceptional Hardship Scheme applications were received from six properties in Leicestershire. Of these, three applications were accepted.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people have (a) applied and (b) had an application accepted for compensation under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The Government recognises that proposals for HS2 can cause uncertainty for individuals, communities and small businesses and has had an effect on property prices in the vicinity of the route. As a result it launched an Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS) to assist those most affected to sell their home to Government at its unblighted market value. This scheme was superseded following consultation by the Need to Sell (NTS) scheme.
Applications under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme were received from 610 properties (848 total applications, of which 238 were reapplications). 250 applications have been accepted. The EHS is now closed for applications, though there are ongoing cases to be concluded.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what total amount has been paid out under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The total amount paid out to date under the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Scheme (EHS) is £146,019,531. The EHS is now closed for applications, though there are ongoing cases to be concluded.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost to the public purse is of the roadworks taking place on the M1 between junctions 15 and 19.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The planned expenditure for this phase of works is £62.5 million. Actual costs can only be determined once the works are completed and final accounts calculated.
The M1 J19 to 15 is replacing the existing steel barrier with a new concrete barrier. This includes removal of the existing steel central reserve barrier and all the existing lighting columns as these are no longer required. We have also undertaken a number of maintenance repairs to bridge piers that sit within the central reserve negating the need for any follow on scheme to carry these out. These works will have a significant reduction in the future maintenance needs for the central reserve as well as assisting in the preparation for the M1 J19-16 Smart Motorway All Lane Running (SM ALR) project that is currently in development.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the roadworks on the M1 between junctions 15 and 19 will be completed.
Answered by Andrew Jones
The planned completion for the work to install a rigid concrete barrier is 7 September 2015.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contractors are carrying out roadworks on the M1 approach to and after the Watford Gap.
Answered by John Hayes
The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme commenced on site in August 2014 and is due to be completed July 2015.
The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme is replacing the existing steel barrier with new Rigid Concrete Barrier that is essential maintenance. In addition to this maintenance the following work will also be carried out: -
The Contractor employed to undertake the M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme is BMJV, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Morgen Sindall.
The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme construction cost is £35M. There is also a Smart Motorway Scheme under development for this stretch of the motorway.
Regarding why there was nobody working on the road works on the M1 approach to and after the Watford Gap on 7 November 2014 at and around noon, it is impossible to know the exact numbers physically on site as operatives have breaks at staggered times. We can confirm the following for numbers of operatives and activities undertaken on that day: -
We are undertaking renewal works to the central reserve barrier on the M1 between junctions 16 and 19. We shall also be looking to replace the life expired barrier between J15 and 16 as part of this works.
From environmental and safety studies we are removing the life expired lighting along the M1 between Junctions 19 and 16. Replacement verge lighting will be installed around Watford Gap Motorway Service Area as part of the smart motorways design and upgrade.
This work will support the delivery of a future smart motorway scheme between junctions 16 and 19. This scheme is presently in development and will be subject to completion of statutory processes (including environmental assessments), deliverability and value for money.
Replacement of the old central reserve steel barrier is required as part of our ongoing maintenance programme and will help with the delivery of the proposed smart motorway works on this stretch. The estimated construction cost of these works is £35 million.
Asked by: Keith Vaz (Labour - Leicester East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for the time taken to complete the roadworks on the M1 approach to and after the Watford Gap.
Answered by John Hayes
The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme commenced on site in August 2014 and is due to be completed July 2015.
The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme is replacing the existing steel barrier with new Rigid Concrete Barrier that is essential maintenance. In addition to this maintenance the following work will also be carried out: -
The Contractor employed to undertake the M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme is BMJV, a joint venture between BAM Nuttall and Morgen Sindall.
The M1 Junction 19 to 16 Central Reserve Barrier scheme construction cost is £35M. There is also a Smart Motorway Scheme under development for this stretch of the motorway.
Regarding why there was nobody working on the road works on the M1 approach to and after the Watford Gap on 7 November 2014 at and around noon, it is impossible to know the exact numbers physically on site as operatives have breaks at staggered times. We can confirm the following for numbers of operatives and activities undertaken on that day: -
We are undertaking renewal works to the central reserve barrier on the M1 between junctions 16 and 19. We shall also be looking to replace the life expired barrier between J15 and 16 as part of this works.
From environmental and safety studies we are removing the life expired lighting along the M1 between Junctions 19 and 16. Replacement verge lighting will be installed around Watford Gap Motorway Service Area as part of the smart motorways design and upgrade.
This work will support the delivery of a future smart motorway scheme between junctions 16 and 19. This scheme is presently in development and will be subject to completion of statutory processes (including environmental assessments), deliverability and value for money.
Replacement of the old central reserve steel barrier is required as part of our ongoing maintenance programme and will help with the delivery of the proposed smart motorway works on this stretch. The estimated construction cost of these works is £35 million.