| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
Road Schemes (Carryduff)
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the present volume of traffic on the Saintfield road near its junction with Buckhill road; what is the maximum volume of traffic which is acceptable at this location; what is the estimated increase in volume of traffic if all present planning applications for housing developments in the Carryduff area were approved; what plans there are to improve the Saintfield road between Buckhill road and Carryduff; what area plans are proposed for the Carryduff area; and if he will make a statement. [94549]
Mr. McFall: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to Mr. G. P Fraser of the Roads Service. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from G. P. Fraser to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 25 October 1999:
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 888
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked our Chief Executive to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question about, inter alia, the present volume of traffic on a section of Saintfield Road, Belfast and associated issues. In the absence of our Chief Executive, I am replying.
It is assumed that your question relates to the volume of traffic on Saintfield Road near its junction with Beechill Road and not Buckhill Road as stated in the question. The latest traffic figures available for this location relate to surveys carried out in 1998. These show that the 2-way average 24-hour flow on Saintfield Road is approximately 30,000 vehicles at the Ivanhoe Inn with a peak hour 2-way flow of 2,700 vehicles.
As regards the maximum acceptable volume of traffic at this location, I should explain that there are many factors that have an influencing effect on road capacity and it is not possible to quote an 'acceptable' maximum volume of traffic for any particular road. For most urban roads, it is the junctions that act as the constraint on traffic capacity rather than the road links between them. However, the theoretical design flow capacity for a 4-lane undivided carriageway, such as Saintfield Road, is 1,700 vehicles per hour in each direction. On this basis, current traffic flow on this section of Saintfield Road is below the theoretical design capacity.
You also asked what is the estimated increase in volume of traffic if all present planning application for housing developments in the Carryduff area were approved. At present we are not in a position to determine the estimated increase in traffic generated by proposed developments in the area as the developers for the major applications have not yet completed Transportation Impact Assessments for their respective developments.
As to plans to improve Saintfield Road between Beechill Road and Carryduff, Roads Service has no proposals at present to carry out any major road improvements on this section of road. We are, however, currently introducing "Quality Bus" measures in the Saintfield Road corridor between Carryduff and Belfast. These measures include bus lanes, bus stop infrastructure, improved traffic signal control and traffic management arrangements. The introduction of a "Park and Ride" site in the corridor is also being pursued.
Finally, you asked what area plans are proposed for the Carryduff area. Colleagues from the Department's Planning Service have advised me that the Carryduff area will be included in the proposed
Belfast Metropolitan Plan which will encompass the district council areas of Belfast, Lisburn, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Newtownabbey and North Down.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Road Schemes (Ards Peninsula)
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when a proposal for a bridge across Strangford Lough was last considered by the Department for the Environment; what is the estimated cost of such a bridge; what is the present planned investment in roads in the Ards Peninsula over the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement. [94720]
Mr. McFall: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its Chief Executive Mr. C. James. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from C. James to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 22 October 1999:
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to respond to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question about the provision of a bridge across Strangford Lough and planned investment in roads in the Ards Peninsula over the next 10 years.
The Department of the Environment considered the proposal to construct a bridge across Strangford Lough as recently as September 1999 following a request from a local interest group. The span across the lough between Portaferry and Strangford measures approximately 0.6 miles and the cost of constructing a bridge at this location is estimated to be in the region of £25M-£30M, depending on detailed design requirements. The Department considers that such an investment would not represent value for money compared to other higher priority road schemes which are required across Northern Ireland.
As regards planned investment in roads in the Ards Peninsula over the next 10 years, approximately £180K is scheduled to be spent on minor road improvements during the 2-year period 2000/01-2001/02. The level of funding for future road programmes over the next 10 years is unknown, but assuming it is maintained at current levels, some £0.9M will be spent on minor road works in the Ards Peninsula over that period. While the Department's 5-year Major Road Works Programme 1999/2000-2003/04 does not include any schemes in the Ards Peninsula, the 6-15 year Forward Planning Programme includes 4 schemes in Newtownards (total value approximately £5.2M). This programme is, however, currently under review and, even if these schemes are retained, the timing of their implementation will depend on the availability of funding.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Pupil Statistics
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils were enrolled (a) in this academic year and (b) five years ago in (i) each of the primary schools and (ii) each of the secondary and grammar schools in the constituency of Strangford. [94375]
Mr. McFall: The figures for the 1999-2000 academic year are not yet available. The information for 1998-99 and 1993-94 is included in the following table:
(4) Figures include reception and nursery pupils
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 889
Police Stations
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans the Chief Constable of the RUC has to close police stations in Northern Ireland within the next three months. [95340]
21-gun Salutes
Mr. William Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors underlay the decision to look at alternative venues to Parliament building, Stormont for traditional 21-gun salutes to mark royal anniversaries; and if he will make a statement. [95342]
Mr. Ingram:
Gun salutes are fired by the Army to honour various anniversaries connected with members of the Royal family. As the Crown and Armed Forces remain excepted (i.e. non-devolved) matters under the Northern Ireland Act 1998, it is felt that it might be more appropriate for future salutes to be fired at a location other than Stormont, which is effectively transferred to the
27 Oct 1999 : Column: 890
Northern Ireland Assembly under the Act. Alternative locations are being considered but no final decisions have yet been taken.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |