§ 8. Mr. FranksTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans have been made to limit the extent of motorway road works during the August bank holiday weekend 1988.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyWherever possible, roadworks involving lane closures are suspended during bank holidays and other peak holiday periods. Some roadworks are unavoidable at these times. Sometimes temporary removal of a large contraflow can be more disruptive than leaving it in place.
§ Mr. FranksIs my hon. Friend aware that certain parts of the country, including my constituency, have local economies that are largely dependent on tourism? In granting further contracts for motorway repair and maintenance, will my hon. Friend bear that in mind?
§ Mr. BottomleyWe shall go on doing the best that we can, and we hope that that will be better than previously.
§ Mr. Tony LloydDoes the Minister understand the anger and frustration of hundreds of thousands of motorists caught in traffic jams over all holiday periods, not just the August bank holiday? People have complained to me about the incompetence of a Department that simply cannot get roadworks done in such a schedule as to allow holiday traffic to go to and fro at the busiest time of the year.
§ Mr. BottomleyYes, but we have two advantages. First, we are spending money on doing some of this reconstruction. Secondly, we do not have the hon. 831 Member for West Bromwich, East (Mr. Snape) saying that he wants all the money for some other mode of transport. We go for an effective balance.
§ Mr. Simon CoombsDoes the answer that my hon. Friend has just given refer to the replacement of central barriers as well as lane repairs? I believe that the lane rental procedure does not operate for central barrier repairs, which are therefore taking a great deal longer.
§ Mr. BottomleyI should like to see reward and penalty extended to most aspects of work on roads, all the way from potholes through to major motorway reconstruction.