§ 42. Mr. Ashtonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to bring into public ownership the toll bridge over the River Trent at Dunham on the A57 trunk road.
§ Mr. Michael HeseltineMy right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.
§ Mr. AshtonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this form of modern highway robbery is preventing industry developing on both sides of the bridge and the building of houses in that area? Is he aware that motorists are paying £80,000 a year to cross the bridge which has been there since 1880 and that this form of Victorian development is not on in this day and age?
§ Mr. HeseltineI can assure the hon. Member that we have looked at the traffic flows and no economic criteria available to us would justify the proposals which the hon. Member has in mind.