§ 3. Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will establish a programme for raising the weight capacity of Welsh rural bridges.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. John Stradling Thomas)No special programme is needed for trunk road bridges in Wales, which will continue to be strengthened or replaced as necessary as part of the normal programme. Bridges on county roads are the responsibility of the relevant local highway authority.
§ Mr. HoosonWill my hon. Friend consider having consultations with all the Welsh counties to co-ordinate a joint review of the weight capacity of the bridges which are the counties' responsibility, as the trend to larger lorry loads frequently forces inconvenient loading and unloading of agricultural loads miles away from some farmsteads?
§ Mr. Stradling ThomasA new code on the assessment of bridges will be promulgated shortly. It is not possible at this stage to say what implications it will have, but any need for additional resources for bridge repair will be considered carefully. My officials are in constant touch with county engineers.