Urgent transport review to look at A21

The Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, has announced that, as part of the £1.5 billion programme of investment in major transport schemes, the Department for Transport will be looking at the A21 in relation to the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road scheme.

The Secretary of State for Transport said:

"We recognise the critically important role that transport improvements could play in the regeneration of the Bexhill-Hastings area and the economic case underpinning the Bexhill-Hastings Link Road, though we are also aware of concerns regarding the proposed scheme, including its environmental impact.

"Before we take a final decision on the scheme we want to be sure that it offers the best approach for regenerating the area and also to consider other transport options to achieve this, including local trunk roads such as the A21, A259 and local rail. We also want to consider whether further environmental mitigation measures could be deployed to address the impacts of the proposed Bexhill-Hastings scheme.

"Over the next three months the Department will work alongside the scheme's promoters and other local and regional partners to gather further evidence on the optimal solution for the area. We would intend to make a decision swiftly thereafter."

Greg meets winner of his Christmas Card competition

Greg visited Pembury Primary School to meet the winner of his Christmas Card competition, Ally Taylor.

Greg commented: "I thought it would be lovely to ask children from local primary schools to design my Christmas card this year. I had a great response which made choosing the winning design very difficult, but in the end I couldn't resist the imaginative Three Kings which Ally Taylor painted as it brought a smile to my face. It was great to be able to meet Ally in person."

Greg presents award to Calverley Hill Hostel

Greg visited Calverley Hill Hostel in Tunbridge Wells, which provides supported housing for vulnerable young women, to present them with a Community in Focus Award on behalf of Faith Action. Community in Focus Awards recognise organisations that provide examples of excellent, innovative and inspirational services which make a real difference to people's lives.

Commenting on his visit, Greg said: "I am really impressed by the work that Calverley Hill Hostel does in turning around the lives of young women – they certainly deserve this award."

Innovative offer to get A21 dualling scheme underway

MPs and local authorities representing the whole length of the A21 corridor have written to the Secretary of State for Transport, Justine Greening, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, with an innovative offer to get the A21 Tonbridge to Pembury dualling scheme underway again.

Kent County Council, East Sussex County Council and other local authorities have offered to:

• Fully underwrite the costs of the currently stalled public inquiry, enabling it to recommence quickly without using central government funds. This will ensure that the project is ready to go once funding is available. 
•  Guarantee the local delivery of the project for £70m. The cost of the scheme has been estimated by the Highways Agency to be £120m. Kent County Council has re-assessed the costs and says that the project can be completed for less than £70m. This represents a saving of over £50m.

Greg Clark commented:

"There are lots of very good reasons why the dualling of the A21 needs to get underway. First and foremost of these has to be road safety - there have been a number of fatal accidents along this stretch of road recently so the sooner it is dualled, the better.

"However, the economic benefits are also considerable. This construction project would be an important boost to the local economy at a much needed time. Getting on with the A21 dualling scheme, rather than keeping it on hold, would have significant growth prospects all along the route of the A21."

"This offer means that when the funding does become available, the A21 dualling scheme should be very well placed to start without any further delay."

See today's report in The Kent & Sussex Courier:

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Councils-offer-fund-inquiry-A21-dualling/story-13952712-detail/story.html

North Farm to get some traffic improvements before Christmas

The working group, set up to consider traffic issues at the North Farm Industrial Estate, met at the Town Hall. Chaired by Greg, the meeting was attended by representatives from the business community, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council.

Kent Highways confirmed that short term measures (as identified in the North Farm traffic study) that could help relieve the traffic problems at North Farm are being implemented and it was anticipated that they would be in place before Christmas. These include:

• capacity improvements at the Great Lodge/Longfield Road junction
• carrying out changes to traffic signal phases
• install CCTV cameras at the Great Lodge/Longfield Road and Kingstanding Way/Longfield Road junctions
• implement 'Keep Clear' markings at the Knights Park/Longfield Road junction (west bound carriageway)
• implement 'Keep Clear' markings at the Dowding Way/Longfield Road roundabout adjacent to Dowding Way entry

Commenting on the meeting, Greg said:

"The congestion at North Farm gets worse. The transformation of North Farm will come with the dualling of the A21, but I believe it is right to take action now rather than wait for the main show. Everything that can be done to improve the situation must be done. That's why I convened this group of Tunbridge Wells and Kent Councillors and officers and businesses in North Farm and I'm pleased that some improvements will be made in time for what will no doubt be a busy Christmas."

 Borough Councillor Brian Ransley, Planning and Transportation Portfolio Holder said:

"This was a constructive meeting and it was very apparent that we all share the desire to work together to find solutions for North Farm.

"The cost of the short term measures will be met from section106 funding from development in Longfield Road, while consideration is still being given to the medium and long-term solutions.

"I was able to emphasise how seriously the borough council views the traffic issues at North Farm. The council's Cabinet is determined that a more radical solution to the traffic problem at North Farm should be sought as soon as possible, and will campaign vigorously to ensure that this problem get priority attention from Kent County Council and other involved agencies."

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council is going to be inviting all the businesses at North Farm to an information session at the end of the month where they can hear about the work the Council and KCC are undertaking and how they can assist in addressing the current congestion issues.

Opening of Hope Butler Suite at new hospital

Greg opened a bereavement suite for the parents of stillborn children and those who die shortly after birth at the new Tunbridge Wells hospital.

The suite, which has a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen, is in memory of Hope Butler, who died 16 years ago at the former Pembury Hospital.  Hope's mother, Emily, also spoke at the opening and is pictured here with Greg.

The hospital has worked closely with Tunbridge Wells Sands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death Charity) Group to develop this new facility which is the first bereavement suite in the country to be included in a new hospital from the planning stage.

MPs raise concerns about rail fares with Southeastern

MPs representing constituencies along the Hastings Line, including Greg, wrote the following letter to the Managing Director of Southeastern to raise concerns about rail fare increases:

01 November 2011

Charles Horton

Managing Director

Southeastern

Friars Bridge Court

41-45 Blackfriars Road

London

SE1 8PG

Dear Charles

We are writing on behalf of the A21 Reference Group to raise concerns about fare increases for rail passengers using the Hastings to London line. The A21 Reference Group comprises all the Kent and East Sussex MPs covering the A21 between the M25 and Hastings, Council Leaders and Chief Executives.

Rail passengers in our area have suffered substantial increases in their rail fares over the last few years, the cumulative effect of which has been crippling.

We are sure you will have seen the petition and campaign that the local newspaper, The Kent & Sussex Courier, has been running demonstrating just how important this issue is to local people.

Our constituents have told us that after this year's double digit fare increases for many, a further round next year, at a time when many commuters have their pay frozen or reduced, brings them to breaking point.

We are aware that your franchise agreement allows you to increase any particular fare by an extra 5% above the average, but we ask you to exercise your discretion not to penalise in such an excessive way commuters at this difficult time.

Yours sincerely

Rt Hon Greg Clark, MP for Tunbridge Wells

Gregory Barker, MP for Bexhill and Battle

Michael Fallon, MP for Sevenoaks

Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings & Rye

Rt Hon Sir John Stanley, MP for Tonbridge & Malling

The A21 Reference Group also comprises representatives from:

East Sussex County Council

Kent County Council

Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council

Rother District Council

Hastings Borough Council

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

Sevenoaks District Council

Wealden District Council

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Ground breaking celebration at Skinners' Kent Academy

Greg was presented with an apple tree by Skinners' Kent Acdemy when he attended their ground breaking event marking the start of work on their new state-of-the-art school building.

 Greg said:

 "This is a ground breaking academy, transforming the educational landscape of Tunbridge Wells.  I'm really impressed by how much has already been achieved over the last couple of years and, when the new school building opens its doors in 2013, it will allow the Academy to achieve even more."

Visit to Little Court Nursing Home

Greg visited Little Court Nursing Home in Speldhurst to see their new nine bed extension.

Morrisons to re-open its store by next Easter

A great local campaign victory - thank you to everyone that took part.