HC Deb 21 November 1977 vol 939 cc1080-1
11. Mr. Michael Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has to make the M4 more accessible to Cardiff.

Mr. Barry Jones

Proposals for a link between the motorway at Capel Lanilltern and the western side of Cardiff are now in the public participation stage and the statutory procedures will be completed as soon as possible.

Mr. Roberts

Can the hon. Gentleman give any example, from his experience of motorways in the United Kingdom, of any town or city comparable in size to the capital city of Wales that has the inferior proposals for access that Cardiff has? Will he do all he can to expedite the Capel Llanilltern interchange? Without it, the whole of the north of Cardiff will become congested and Cardiff will not be able to take the maximum economic advantage of its closeness to the M4.

Mr. Barry Jones

Certainly we shall make every attempt to speed up matters, but the interchanges are provided where they are needed and not on a rationed basis. We in the Department would argue that sufficient provision has been made. As for proposals for an interchange at, say, Thornhill, I have to ask the hon. Gentleman whether he is sure that the residents of the Thornhill area would welcome it.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

Will my hon. Friend tell the House in due course what proposals he has to make Cardiff more accessible to North Wales?

Mr. Barry Jones

I had better say that I welcome that question and that the Welsh Office is determined that communications between North and South Wales by road and rail shall proceed apace. There is no doubt in my mind that before very long we shall make an announcement in this direction.

Sir Raymond Cower

When the Minister says that Cardiff is adequately supplied in this way, will he bear in mind that Newport, with a population of about 105,000, has several interchanges of this kind but Cardiff, with a population of twice as many—nearly 300,000—is reduced to one real interchange and one at St. Mellons, which is some distance away? Does not this on the face of it appear somewhat inconsistent?

Mr. Barry Jones

It is not inconsistent. I have no objection to other interchanges being built but would stipulate that there should be adequate connections to take the traffic.