Written Question:

Mr. Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to reduce traffic congestion in (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex. [219967]

Member Answering Question: The Rt Hon Rosie Winterton MP, Minister of State

Answer: The regional element of Towards a Sustainable Transport System (DfT's Response to Eddington) is still at the stage of identifying key challenges to be delivered post 2014. This will need to include mechanisms for, inter alia, barriers to productivity including addressing congestion and climate change.

Steps currently being taken in West Sussex to reduce traffic congestion on trunk roads include:

Operational Management

About £4.7 million Local Network Management Schemes.

The HA's Traffic Officer service on the M23 dedicated to managing traffic and provide rapid response to clear debris, carry out immediate repairs and implement traffic management.

Carrying out routine maintenance outside of peak travel times.

Infrastructure improvement (in current regional funding allocation)

A23 Handcross to Warninglid (in Mid Sussex) (programmed for 2012).

A27 Chichester bypass improvements (programmed for 2015).

Local Transport Improvements

Local roads are the responsibility of West Sussex county council.

Local Transport Plan funding to West Sussex over the last 10 years amounts to about £143 million. We do not have the data to identify a figure separately for local transport investment in Mid Sussex.

Funding is allocated within the local authority according to local priorities. In its Local Transport Plan, West Sussex has identified congestion in the major centres and strategic roads as one of their top priorities.

Traffic Management

The Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Local Transport Bill (currently before Parliament) shall give enhanced powers to local authorities in their quest to reduce traffic congestion.