§ 3. Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with the relevant local councils in London about the effect on their local environments of his Department's major road schemes on which work has already started; and if he will make a statement. [13020]
§ The Minister for Transport in London (Mr. Steve Norris)We hold regular discussions with local authorities as part of the process of designing, developing and constructing all road schemes.
§ Mr. CohenAfter saying that the M11 link road through my constituency was an urgent matter, fighting with demonstrators at great cost, evicting local people from their homes and demolishing those homes, will the Minister explain why the Government have halted the programme and left the route a mudheap? The leader of the council has described the situation as the worst of all worlds and the Civic Society has said that the Government seem to have a vendetta against Leytonstone. Why does his Department's policy make the art of the absurd look like social realism?
§ Mr. NorrisWe remain convinced of the merits of the excellent Hackney M 11 scheme. It will provide the link from the docklands to the motorway system, relieve communities in the hon. Gentleman's constituency of the intolerable pressure of traffic from which they suffer—he and I know about that at first hand—and give us the opportunity to do a great deal of work there that will much improve conditions for local residents. Tenders for the next two contracts in the scheme—contracts 1 and 3—are to be invited in a few weeks' time in April. Work is on-going. The scheme will be completed and the funding for it will be provided.
§ Mr. John MarshallDoes my hon. Friend accept that the decision to defer the Henlys corner scheme, which is part of the north circular road scheme, was welcomed by many residents of the area? Indeed, if he comes forward with a more modest scheme, he will be even more popular than he is today.
§ Mr. NorrisI always welcome invitations not to spend money, but on this occasion I fear that, for once, I shall disappoint my hon. Friend. In the fulness of time, we will complete works on the north circular road, because only when the scheme is complete will all Londoners receive the full benefit of that internal bypass through London, which can help to remove so much rat-running traffic, not least through my hon. Friend's constituency.