Severn Bridge (Hansard, 27 October 1982)

§ 12. Mr. Mudd
asked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the condition of the Severn bridge.

§ Mrs. Chalker
In a few weeks.

§ Mr. Mudd
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that promise of things yet to come. We were promised October, and in the next few days it will be November. My hon. Friend may well be as worried as the majority of us are about the continued build-up in the volume and weight of lorries using this bridge. What reassurance can she give that the relationship of weight potential to the actual volume and number of vehicles carried is not becoming disproportionate, to a potentially dangerous level?

§ Mrs. Chalker
All the investigations that have been undertaken, and are still continuing, by Flint and Neill, and all the work of the Department, takes into account the level, volume and weight of the traffic that the bridge has been carrying and will carry in the future. The proposals will take full account of the worries expressed by the all-party roads group when it met me on the bridge in July.

§ Mr. Ioan Evans
Is consideration being given to the possibility of a second bridge, in view of the tremendous use that is made of the existing one? Is there any possibility of linking such a project with the Severn barrage scheme? When the hon. Lady says "In a few weeks" does she mean that a statement will be made in the Queen's Speech.

§ Mrs. Chalker
We shall not be ready to make a statement in the Queen's Speech. It will take a week or so longer than that. We must consider the cost-effectiveness of strengthening the present crossing to give various standards of future service. As my right hon. Friend said in June, along with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales we are reviewing the longer-term future for the crossing. At this stage I have no reason to disagree with the working party composed of officials of my Department and the Welsh Office, which concluded last year that on traffic grounds the need for the new crossing was not yet proven, but I assure the hon. Gentleman that the whole matter is under continuous review.

§ Mr. Colvin
With the greatest respect, my hon. Friend has not answered the first part of the question put by the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans). Does she appreciate that if the Severn barrage were built, it would probably have a motorway running along the top of it? That would greatly ease the traffic over the Severn estuary as it would provide a traffic link between the West Country and South Wales. Will she therefore confirm that the Department of Transport is adding its weight to those who are in favour of the Severn barrage and that the Secretary of State will be speaking in support of it in the Cabinet?

§ Mrs. Chalker
I apologise to the hon. Member for Aberdare (Mr. Evans). The Secretary of State for Energy has not yet taken any decision on the barrage. If the barrage incorporated a carriageway suitable for normal traffic, there would be problems in the lowering and raising of one section. At present there is no evidence that much traffic would use the crossing at the particular location where the barrage is likely to be sited.

§ Mr. Booth
In view of the serious bottleneck effect of the lane closures on the Severn bridge, which we understand will continue until such time as the bridge is strengthened, will the Minister consider withdrawing the tolls during the period of lane closures to speed the traffic flow across the bridge?

§ Mrs. Chalker
As the House probably knows, the lane closures in the early mornings are a precaution against overloading, and he tailback has not been extensive. Of late, there have been temporary lane restrictions in off-peak time, which will continue until next month. I do not believe that removing payment for the crossing is any answer to the tailbacks or the problems with which we must cope.