Lorries (East Sussex)

HC Deb 20 July 1977 vol 935 cc1571-2

1. Mr. Bowden

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints he has received during 1977 from residents and organisations in the East Sussex County Council area regarding heavy lorries.

The Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. John Horam)

About 13, Sir.

Mr. Bowden

Does the Minister accept that as it may be some years before the Channel Tunnel is built, that must lead to an increasing number of heavy lorries on the roads in the South-East and in the East Sussex County Council area? What steps are the Government taking to ensure that effective heavy lorry routes are developed to minimise the inconvenience and trouble caused to residents in the area?

Mr. Horam

I do indeed accept that it may be some years before the Channel Tunnel is built. The hon. Gentleman will be interested to know that in the interval, under the Dykes Act and similar local traffic regulations, East Sussex County Council has been extremely good in what it has done. It has already put lorry bans on routes in certain rural areas, as well as in the towns of Eastbourne, Hove, Seaford and Hailsham—though regret tably not in Horam. The county council has also issued an advisory lorry route map to Continental drivers. Therefore, all in all, East Sussex is coping reasonably with the undoubted problem.

Mr. Lipton

In addition to the disadvantages of heavy lorries that have already been mentioned, will the Minister bear in mind that these lorries are the main cause of burst water mains in the London area, and will he try to reduce the dislocation of traffic and the expense involved in repairing the burst mains?

Mr. Horam

Yes. I accept that perfectly valid point. However, if I were to read out—as I have for East Sussex—all that the Greater London Council is doing about this I should take too much of the time of the House. The GLC is doing a great deal.

Mr. Walter Johnson

While the Minister is considering that, will he take into account the recent report that heavy and juggernaut lorries were, allegedly, responsible for the gas explosions that occurred earlier this year, by fracturing gas pipes under roadways?

Mr. Horam

I accept that point, but my hon. Friend is leading me on to a difficult and different terrain. However, there are proposals in the White Paper for increasing the taxation on heavy lorries to take account of the wear and tear that they cause on roads. That is in addition to the particular bans on heavy lorries.