§ 6. Mr. Dormandasked the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the cost of repairs to the A19 road in county Durham and county Cleveland, respectively, for each of the years since the opening of the road.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe A19 trunk road has been open to traffic for many years and information related specifically to repairs could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
274 The annual maintenance costs, of which a major element is expenditure on repairs, are more readily available. With permission, I will circulate the information for the last eight years in the Official Report.
§ Following is the information:
| A19 Trunk road annual maintenance costs | ||
| Year | County Durham | County Cleveland |
| £000s | £000s | |
| 1975–76 | 27 | 120 |
| 1976–77 | 39 | 341 |
| 1977–78 | 65 | 257 |
| 1978–79 | 162 | 454 |
| 1979–80 | 371 | 507 |
| 1980–81 | 82 | 296 |
| 1981–82 | 181 | 1,341 |
| 1982–83* | 395 | 2,086 |
| TOTAL(8 years) | 1,322 | 5,402 |
| * Estimated cost. |
§ Mr. DormandThat was an exceedingly disappointing reply. The Minister knows that the cost of the repairs so far is over £2 million. Does she recall that I first wrote to her about this problem about two years ago? Is she aware of the great inconvenience, not to say danger, that is caused to literally thousands of my constituents by the massive road works that are for ever being carried out on the A19? In view of the concern that has been widely expressed in county Durham and county Cleveland, and the great cost involved in repairing that comparatively new road, will the Minister authorise an independent inquiry as a matter of urgency?
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe hon. Gentleman must have written to my predecessor. However, I accept that he is worried. That is why on 12 March last year I announced the appointment of independent consultants to look into the matter. I, too, was thoroughly dissatisfied with the information that I had received. The report has now come in, but we have not yet had a full chance to assess it. I shall write to the hon. Gentleman as soon as the figures are in my hands.
§ Mr. Skinnerrose—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I will call the hon. Gentleman, but he must realise that the question is about the A19 in county Durham and county Cleveland.
§ Mr. SkinnerIs the Minister aware that if she travelled up the A1 and left it at junction 29 for a rest, she would see the A617—on the way to Durham, that is—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman has gone up a side path. He has wandered off the straight and narrow.
§ Mr. SkinnerWill the Minister for a brief moment examine that road with a view to getting a bypass for the Glapwell residents, who are up in arms about it?