HC Deb 29 July 1976 vol 916 cc857-8
9. Mr. Fitt

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement with regard to the progress of the Belfast transportation review.

Mr. Concannon

The consultants' study of the Belfast Transportation Review is approaching completion. Six alternative strategies were reviewed in an interim report. The Northern Ireland Department of the Environment, in consultation with the Belfast City Council, chose three for further study. The consultants' draft final report has been received by the Department and preparations are at present being made for publication of the final report in the near future.

Mr. Fitt

Is the Minister aware that in the absence of specific proposals emerging from this review on transportation there are many areas, lying vacant and neglected, particularly in the city of Belfast, which could be used for the provision of either homes or small and light industry? Is he also aware of a recent Press report to the effect that the transportation studies have cost the Government thousands and thousands of pounds and can he confirm or deny that the figures which have been quoted are correct?

Mr. Concannon

I think the newspaper that my hon. Friend has referred to is the Andersonstown News. The report did not say "thousands" of pounds; it said "millions". In fact, £280,000 has been spent so far. It is another of those journals which tend slightly to exaggerate. None of the three strategies provides for an elevated urban motorway of the same standard as that contained in the original design. Two of the three strategies do include a proposed dual carriageway along the line of phase 1, linking the M1 and M2 to channel heavy traffic from the docks away from residential areas and the city centre.

Mr. Molyneaux

Will the Minister reconsider the advisability of proceeding with the motor road link at Whitehouse, to which I have already referred in a previous debate. Will he bear in mind that this is likely to cost over £3 million? Would that money not be better spent in other directions? For example, it could be used to avoid doing real damage to the economy of Northern Ireland if it were available for that purpose?

Mr. Concannon

I wish somebody had taken note of the hon. Gentleman's views some time ago, because I think that money spent on roads in Northern Ireland would have been much better spent elsewhere, anyway. I shall certainly take note of the point that the hon. Gentleman has made.