HL Deb 07 July 1965 vol 267 cc1319-21

2.54 p.m.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether research to ascertain what are the most effective shrubs for plantation in the central verges of motorways and dual carriageway roads has reached any conclusions; and when it may be expected that such verges will be planted with approved plants.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)

My Lords, experiments with anti-dazzle planting have been in progress on the Medway Motorway (M.2) since early this year. The immediate purpose of these experiments is to ascertain whether various species of shrub can survive in the conditions prevailing on a motorway central reserve. This will take some time, and it would be premature to take a decision now about further planting of this sort. Experiments with shrubs at the Road Research Laboratory have shown that the standard motorway central reserve would have to be several times wider to accommodate a thickness adequate to act as a crash barrier. We do not think that this would be justified for, in addition to taking up further agricultural land, it would add substantially to construction costs.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his Answer, but can he give any idea as to when these experiments are likely to produce results which can be carried out throughout the country where motorways are being made?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, we are only carrying out this one experiment on the M.2, and it will take at least two years to ascertain the effect of the fumes from the traffic on the road, the effect of the wind and also the effect of salt, which is a new factor—the salt spray coming from salting the roads during the winter.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

My Lords, could the noble Lord say why it is necessary to carry out this experi ment, in view of the fact that on certain roads, notably the Winchester by-pass, there has been a central reservation planted for the last 25 years, which has been extremely successful? Would he not agree that one of the problems is cutting it down and keeping it trimmed, rather than getting it to grow?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, a great deal was done in the inter-war years by an association which I think was called the Road Beautifying Association, but on those roads there were dual carriageways between which the centre reservation was natural. In the construction of a motorway the foundation goes right across from side to side and the top soil on the central reservation is exceedingly shallow. Therefore it has not the advantage of the possibility of plants rooting in the same way as in the natural plantings on the pre-war dual carriageway roads.

LORD BRECON

My Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that it would be better to use steel barriers where cars are travelling so fast? Surely safety is just as important on the motorway as the beauty of shrubs?

LORD LINDGREN

Yes, my Lords; but if we can get beauty and safety we shall have the best of two worlds.

LORD FARINGDON

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell me whether in fact we could not gain from the experience of other countries which have had this type of road for a long time and in which I know the planting of the central reservation habitually takes place?

LORD LINDGREN

In many other countries, particularly America, these central reserves are much wider, and also the native plants of those countries are not necessarily the type of plant that would be useful in this country. We really want to use our own native plants if we are to make an effective barrier.

LORD ERROLL OF HALE

My Lords, as one object of the shrubs is to prevent motorists from being dazzled, and as it is proving very difficult to get these shrubs to grow to a sufficient thickness, would it not be better to light up the motorway?

LORD LINDGREN

That is a different question, and, of course, cost comes into it.

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether the John Innes Horticultural Research Institute, which I believe is shortly to be closed, has been doing any work on these lines?

LORD LINDGREN

I could not give any authoritative answer to that. The work in which we are interested has been carried out mainly by the Road Research Laboratory.