A23
Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what reports he has received from the Highways Agency on events on Handcross Hill in Sussex on 11 March 2013; [149105]
(2) what reports he has received on the gritting of the A23 at Handcross Hill in Mid Sussex and south to Brighton on 10 March, 11 March and 12 March 2013. [149106]
Stephen Hammond, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Following the severe weather that brought particularly difficult driving conditions across Kent and Sussex including the A23 at Handcross Hill and Highways Agency routes south to Brighton, I was briefed initially at 06.00 on 12 March. I asked for a more extensive and detailed update which was received at 16.00 on the same day from the Deputy Chief Executive of the Highways Agency.
These reports included a summary of the Highways Agency's preparations for snow and ice both before and after the severe weather warnings had been issued and their operation to respond to a high number incidents across the region. Although routes had been treated, many of the incidents involved heavy goods vehicles unable to negotiate uphill gradients. This caused closures at several locations—which caused delay for many other vehicles.