§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are giving further consideration to a by-pass road at Berwick-on-Tweed where delays on the A.1 are foreseen in the summer reminiscent of those at Doncaster and Morpeth prior to the construction of roads by-passing those towns.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)Yes, my Lords. Various schemes, including an intermediate bypass and outer by-passes of Berwick, are being considered by the official working party which was set up following the public inquiry into, and the subsequent withdrawal of, draft proposals for improving the A.1 trunk route through Berwick.
§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that there is some disappointment with the slow progress which is being made in this matter and which in fact means a great deal to people who live on the East coast between Newcastle and Edinburgh, and in particular between Berwick-on-Tweed and Edinburgh? Now that there is unemployment and shortage of work, would not this be a very good time to get on with it?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, indeed it would be, but we have first to decide which particular scheme is appropriate 146 for the traffic going through Berwick; and that requires the traffic analysis to be completed. Subject to the Northumberland Country Council providing the further data required, the report of the working party should be available in the course of next month.
§ VISCOUNT RIDLEYMy Lords, may I ask whether the Minister is aware that the people of Berwick themselves would prefer to see the A.1 South of Berwick improved? The problems of traffic congestion in Berwick can very simply be solved by pedestrian footbridges.
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I am not personally aware of that, but, if it is so, no doubt it will be brought to our attention when the report of the working party is received.
§ LORD KILMANYMy Lords, will my noble friend bear in mind that the people who live North of Berwick-on-Tweed are just as important as those south of Berwick-on-Tweed?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, it sounds as if we shall have to have another public inquiry.
§ LORD FERRIERMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he is satisfied that the traffic survey bears in mind the great variations on the A.1 caused by weather conditions in the winter when the pressure on the A.1 goes up by 100 per cent.?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, that was a point which was dealt with in my last Answer to the noble Lord, Lord Kilmany, on this topic.