London Southend Airport & Environs Joint Area Action Plan Issues & Options Paper

Thank you for your letter of 23 June to my colleague Chris Shaw seeking views by 9 August 2008 on the preparation of the above DPD.

As you are aware the HA, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, is responsible for managing and operating a safe and efficient Trunk Road Network (TRN) in England as laid down in Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 02/2007 (Planning and The Strategic Road Network). Although there are no trunk roads within the Borough Boundary, the Highways Agency considers that the expansion of London Southend Airport may have an impact on the TRN outside the borough, and in particular the A13 and Junctions 29 and 30 of the M25 motorway.

The Highways Agency therefore agrees with the content of Section 4.5 regarding the consideration of linkages to the wider transport network, and recommends, that to ensure the soundness of the Joint Area Action Plan, that the traffic impacts on the trunk road network of the growth scenarios identified in the consultation document are fully assessed.

The Highways Agency would also support initiatives to encourage a modal shift from current levels of car borne traffic through traffic management solutions, improvements to public transport, park and ride facilities, review of parking provision and through the implementation of Travel Plans.

I trust you will find our comments helpful and we would, of course, be pleased to meet you to discuss our comments, or any other issues that may relate directly to, or could have an impact on, the trunk road network.

Thank you for your letter of 23 June to my colleague Chris Shaw seeking views by 9 August 2008 on the preparation of the above DPD.

As you are aware the HA, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, is responsible for managing and operating a safe and efficient Trunk Road Network (TRN) in England as laid down in Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 02/2007 (Planning and The Strategic Road Network). Although there are no trunk roads within the Borough Boundary, the Highways Agency considers that the expansion of London Southend Airport may have an impact on the TRN outside the borough, and in particular the A13 and Junctions 29 and 30 of the M25 motorway.

The Highways Agency therefore agrees with the content of Section 4.5 regarding the consideration of linkages to the wider transport network, and recommends, that to ensure the soundness of the Joint Area Action Plan, that the traffic impacts on the trunk road network of the growth scenarios identified in the consultation document are fully assessed.

The Highways Agency would also support initiatives to encourage a modal shift from current levels of car borne traffic through traffic management solutions, improvements to public transport, park and ride facilities, review of parking provision and through the implementation of Travel Plans.

I trust you will find our comments helpful and we would, of course, be pleased to meet you to discuss our comments, or any other issues that may relate directly to, or could have an impact on, the trunk road network.