HC Deb 16 April 1975 vol 890 cc420-2
9. Dr. Edmund Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his major review of the trunk road system.

Mr. Mulley

Consultations with local authorities are continuing and I hope to announce the results of the review shortly.

Dr. Marshall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this is regarded as an urgent matter by the people of Thorne in my constituency? The M18 motorway by-passing the town was opened as long ago as June 1972 but the old main road through the town centre is still classed as a trunk road, so that no restrictions can be placed on the size of vehicles using it and urban redevelopment is delayed.

Mr. Mulley

I am aware of the very great concern of my hon. Friend about the A614 at Thorne. I pay tribute to the very diligent and persistent way in which he has pressed this matter. We have had to hold up some individual cases pending the review, but I think that we should seek to get a decision about Thorne very soon.

Mr. Fry

May I ask the Minister to assure us that when he makes his decision there will not be considerable de-trunking of roads such as the A6? This is an issue which over the years has been funked by successive Governments, who have passed the responsiblity on to local authorities, whose future programmes for road construction have already been severely reduced.

Mr. Mulley

The hon. Gentleman gives a glimpse of the kind of difficulties involved in the review and the reason why the consultations are naturally long and difficult. The financial aspect is important. We are only just beginning the very first year of the new transport supplementary grant system. I could not, therefore, expect the final review to be completed for a considerable time. However, we shall try to deal with special cases.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

At the risk of being tedious about the A9, may I ask whether the Minister would care to say anything about this killer road now that the summer is approaching? The frustration of drivers travelling behind lorries and caravans has during the last five years been one of the causes of 100 accidents leading to deaths.

Mr. Mulley

I could not, without notice, give a detailed answer on that question. In any event, if the hon. Lady's concern is north of the border I would not dare to give an opinion about it.

Mr. Townsend

Does the Minister agree that Greater London, a city of 7 million people, badly needs a proper network to collect the traffic from the trunk roads coming into the city? What is he doing to speed up the construction of Ringway 3?

Mr. Mulley

The hon. Gentleman knows that the prime responsibility for roads within the Greater London area rests with the Greater London Council. As regards the orbital road, the outer road, we are doing our best. However, the hon. Gentleman is probably not unaware that a public inquiry has been going on for some months, and it is likely to last even longer. Going through the detailed and lengthy public participation, the public inquiry on the line, side road orders and compulsory purchase orders is a very long job. Another good reason is that the funds available for roads have been curtailed.