Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans are in place to reduce traffic and improve safety on the A483 road on the Wales-Shropshire border.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
In developing its interim Route Strategies that will help shape the third Road Investment Strategy, National Highways has worked closely with interested parties to gather information on the current performance of the A483. This work will assist in the identification of areas for further investigation. Safety is one of the top priorities for the Department and National Highways when producing these strategies.
The Wales – Shropshire border section of the A483 will be considered principally within the Midlands and Gloucestershire to Wales strategy, which is due to be published later this year
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of (a) the safety of Llynclys Crossroads and (b) the potential merits of redesigning that junction.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
In developing the A483 Pant-Llanymynech Bypass RIS3 Pipeline scheme, National Highways will consider options for improvements at this junction as part of its scope alongside wider route optimisation work being conducted. Safety for road users is the top priority for both the Department and National Highways when developing these options.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of building a bypass road around Llanymynech and Pant.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department and National Highways continue to work closely with the Welsh Government to continue to develop options for the A483 Pant-Llanymynech Bypass scheme as part of the pipeline of schemes being considered for possible delivery within the third Road Investment Strategy or future road periods beyond 2025.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to reduce the driving test backlog in (a) Shropshire and (b) across the UK.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has received an informal offer to use Whitchurch Civic Centre but there are a number of factors that need to be resolved before an agreement can be reached, including a change of use planning application.
Driving tests were disrupted during the pandemic. The DVSA is working hard to increase the number of practical driving test appointments across Great Britain, including Shropshire. Measures in place to do this include:
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on opening a driving test centre at Whitchurch Civic Centre in the last six months.
Answered by Richard Holden - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has received an informal offer to use Whitchurch Civic Centre but there are a number of factors that need to be resolved before an agreement can be reached, including a change of use planning application.
Driving tests were disrupted during the pandemic. The DVSA is working hard to increase the number of practical driving test appointments across Great Britain, including Shropshire. Measures in place to do this include:
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many meetings the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State of his Department has had with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency on Whitchurch Driving Test Centre in the last 18 months.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) updates Baroness Vere of Norbiton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, on driving test centre (DTC) closures, including Whitchurch, through written correspondence.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he (a) is taking and (b) plans to take steps to help ensure that councils provide access to bus services for isolated communities in North Shropshire constituency.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
I recognise the importance of transport provision in rural and isolated areas and we as a Government are committed to finding solutions which ensure that local communities in areas such as those in North Shropshire have viable and improved transport services.
We have provided nearly £1.86bn in emergency and recovery grant funding for bus services in England outside London to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic. Shropshire Council has so far received a total of £2.17m. Shropshire have also been allocated a further £558,906 through the Local Transport Fund, to continue supporting bus services from April until October, as well as £512,447 in funding from the £42m LTA Bus Service Operators Grant in 2020-21.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of rising fuel prices on the haulage industry.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
I am working closely with Cabinet colleagues to consider support we can provide in these challenging times. My Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has recently announced a 12 month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5p per litre, representing a saving worth around £200 for the average van driver, and £1,500 for the average haulier. This is on top of fuel duty rates having been frozen for twelve consecutive years.
Asked by: Helen Morgan (Liberal Democrat - North Shropshire)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what risk assessments were carried out in relation to pedestrian safety when determining the route of HGV traffic for the HS2 construction project through the parish of Woore.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Environmental Statements published for HS2 Phase 2a assessed the impacts of construction traffic for the proposed Phase 2a construction routes, including impacts on pedestrians and their safety for the parish of Woore.