Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been provided to BCP council to fix potholes.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In 2023/24 the Government provided Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council with £6.24 million of capital funding for local highway maintenance. This was an increase of around 30% compared to the previous year, made possible in part by reallocating £604,000 of funding that would otherwise have been spent on the HS2 programme. In total, Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council will receive an uplift of over £18 million over the next decade as a result of the decision to reallocate HS2 funding.
It is up to Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council to determine how best to use this funding based on local needs, priorities and circumstances. Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council has published on its website details of how it intends to spend the additional funding the Government has provided (https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/projects-plans-and-consultations/highway-maintenance)
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds his Department has allocated to help improve local traffic movements in the last five years.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has a number of funding streams which can help improve local traffic movements. These include the Integrated Transport Block, which can support small-scale local improvements, and the Highway Maintenance Block which helps deliver smoother roads. Details of the funding provided under each are available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/roads-funding-information-pack/roads-funding-information-pack.
In addition, there are a number of wider Government funds such as the Levelling Up Fund, Active Travel Fund and Future High Streets all of which have supported improvements to local roads.
As announced in the Plan for Drivers, the Department has provided £50 million to local authorities to upgrade traffic signals to help improve traffic flow. This includes £30 million to replace outdated equipment, and £20 million to reduce poor traffic light sequencing through innovative technology that responds to live traffic conditions. Details of the funding allocations are available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/traffic-signal-obsolescence-grant-and-green-light-fund-allocations”
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans for councils to set their own charges for parking on single and double yellow lines.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department has no such plans.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on consultation with local residents before the introduction of 20 mph zones.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits/setting-local-speed-limits. On setting 20mph speed limits and zones, it states ‘A comprehensive and early consultation of all those who may be affected by the introduction of a 20mph scheme is an essential part of the implementation process. This needs to include residents, all tiers of local government, the police and emergency services, public transport providers and any other relevant local groups (including, for example, groups representing pedestrians, cyclists, drivers or equestrians)’.
Local authorities are expected to consider this best practice guidance; though the final decision is for the authority together with the police, who would carry out any enforcement activity.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much reallocated HS2 funding has been given to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for road resurfacing.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Over the period 2023/24 to 2033/34 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will receive at least £18.9 million of reallocated HS2 funding for highways maintenance, including road resurfacing.
As I’ve previously set out, Network North will see every penny of the £19.8 billion committed to the Northern leg of HS2 reinvested in the North. Every penny of the £9.6 billion committed to the Midlands leg will be reinvested in the Midlands. The £6.5 billion saved through our rescoped approach at Euston will be spread across every other region in the country – and it is from this pot that this funding comes.
In line with the published allocations, the Department for Transport has paid £604,000 of this to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council this financial year; the Council will receive the same amount in 2024/25. Future allocations are a matter for the next Spending Review.
This information, as with all highway maintenance funding allocations, is published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to help ensure that the planned rail upgrades by Network Rail to Pokesdown for Boscombe Station in Bournemouth East are completed in 2024.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
I will shortly be meeting with officials and Network Rail to assess timescales which were previously communicated to Parliament. I will provide an update to the Rt Hon Member in writing thereafter.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of driving under the influence of (a) drugs and (b) alcohol offences in (i) the South West and (ii) Bournemouth.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department approaches drink and drug driving enforcement from a national perspective.
We have tough penalties in place, with our highly respected and effective ‘THINK!’ campaigns reminding people of the serious consequences driving under the influence of drink can have on themselves and others.
Enforcement of road traffic law and how available resources are deployed is the responsibility of individual Chief Officers and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local problems and demands with which they are faced
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding his Department is providing for road resurfacing in Bournemouth.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
During the current financial year the Department is providing Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council with £6,240,800 of capital funding for highway maintenance. This represents a funding increase of around 30% compared to the amount it was receiving in 2022/23.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is taking steps to mitigate against the effects of cold weather on transport.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State for Transport can confirm that well-practised resilience plans have been put in place across the transport network in preparation for the winter period.
Asked by: Tobias Ellwood (Conservative - Bournemouth East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to help ensure the delivery of planned facilities improvements to Pokesdown station by Network Rail.
Answered by Huw Merriman - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
DfT Officials are in regular contact with South Western Railway, Network Rail and the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, through all-party meetings and correspondence, to ensure that the facilities improvements at Pokesdown for Boscombe station are carried out. A total of £5.7m has been allocated by all parties to the project, which is currently in the design stage, with funding agreements to shortly be agreed.