HC Deb 25 March 1985 vol 76 cc3-4
2. Mr. Raffan

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the proposed A55 Northop bypass, giving a schedule of starting and completion dates for its construction.

The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. John Stradling Thomas)

I announced my decision on a route for the Northop bypass on 14 March. I have accepted the inspector's recommendation that the route in the published draft order to the north and east of the village should be adopted, though my Department will be discussing questions of access and severed land with the landowners affected. The provisional start date for the scheme is summer 1987, subject to the completion of the remaining statutory procedures and of engineering design. Construction work is expected to take about two years.

Mr. Raffan

Why has the bypass starting date slipped from autumn 1986 to summer 1987? Does my hon. Friend remember his assurance to me on 25 October 1984 that the delay in announcing the outcome of the inquiry would not lead to a delay in the starting date? Does he realise that if this new starting date is followed there will be a period of more than two years when Northop village will be nothing more than a bottleneck between the completed Hawarden and Holywell bypasses?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I understand my hon. Friend's concern, but careful consideration had to be given to the issues involved. As the report made clear, the inspector found that some of the matters raised at the public inquiry required careful balancing. The provisional start date of summer 1987 accords with the time scale given in "Roads in Wales 1983". The statutory procedures, and the considerations of those of my hon. Friend's constituents who are affected, cannot easily be brushed aside.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Does the Minister agree that since the publication of the document "Roads in Wales 1983" there has been a good deal of slippage in respect of the A55 programme? Is it not a pretty lame excuse for the Welsh Office to talk about changing priorities and competing demands? Is it not obvious that such important road construction work should be given the highest possible priority?

Mr. Stradling Thomas

Such work is, of course, given the highest possible priority. Those who understand the engineering problems involved—and there are many hon. Members who do — will realise that slippage is inevitable in some schemes—

Mr. Roy Hughes

Too many banana skins.

Mr. Stradling Thomas

I thought that we were talking about roads rather than fruit. The hon. Gentleman made a statement that was grossly distorted. Some slippage occurs inevitably because of the difficulties involved, and because of the essential nature of the statutory procedures that protect the rights of those affected.