Highways Agency - Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers

Response to Consultation Report - December 2011

Executive Summary

This document details the Highways Agency's response to comments raised during the 12-week consultation period on the proposal to introduce Variable Mandatory Speed Limits (VMSL) on the M25 motorway between junctions 2 and 3.

The consultation period started on 5 May 2009 and closed on 28 July 2009 and provided an opportunity for interested parties and members of the public to comment on the proposal (the "M25 Controlled Motorway Scheme").

Controlled Motorway Objectives

The proposed "Controlled Motorway Scheme" is a pro-active traffic management system, which when operational will meet the following objectives to:

• Reduce congestion;
• Provide more reliable journey times;
• Reduce the frequency of accidents;
• Reduce carbon emissions; and
• Reduce driver stress.

Controlled Motorway schemes also reduce noise levels.

Consultation Process

The consultation document "Controlled Motorways M25 Junctions 2 to 3 - Consultation Paper (December 2011)" together with appendices was issued as follows:

• By post direct to 70 stakeholders;
• Made open to public consultation on the Highways Agency's website.

The consultation encouraged representative organisations, businesses and members of the public to make contact with the Highways Agency and communicate their views. The results of this process can be summarised as follows:

• Twenty-two responses were received within the consultation period;
• Generally the consultees who responded gave their support to the Controlled Motorway Scheme.

The responses raised a number of issues which are addressed later in this report.

Recommendation

Given the positive responses and due consideration of the issues raised, this report recommends that Variable Mandatory Speed Limits (VMSL) be implemented on the M25 between Junctions 2 and 3.

The full report is available for download in PDF format below:

• Response to Consultation Report - December 2011 (PDF 1MB)

A full Impact Assessment of the effect that this Statutory instrument will have on the costs of the business and the voluntary sector has also been produced by the Highways Agency.

The full assessment can be downloaded in PDF format below:

• M25 J2 to 3 Impact Assessment (PDF 720KB)