HL Deb 15 March 1976 vol 369 cc1-3
Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My 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 what is the latest situation regarding the proposed trunk road bridge over the Beauly Firth at Kessock, North of Inverness, which would replace the ferry.

The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Kirkhill)

My Lords, as my right honourable friend the Secretary of State announced on 24th July in another place, the original tenders for a steel structure proved to be unacceptable. Since then we have been exploring the possibility of alternative designs and methods of contracting. The current position is that the possibility of shortening the main span to widen the design field is precluded by the views of the Harbour Trust. A concrete design providing the longer span has been suggested and the steel consortium which proposed a shorter span wish to submit alternative proposals for the long span. We are considering how, in these circumstances, to bring the matter to a decision and, as I told the Highland Regional Council in February, I hope that, given a favourable economic climate, this can be done in time to enable a start to be made early in 1978.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, I am grateful for that full reply, but should not this bridge, under the original plan of 1970, be at an advanced stage of construction by now? It has clearly become a victim of 26 per cent. annual inflation. Since, together with the proposed crossing of the Cromarty Forth, it will reduce the trunk road distance to the North of Scotland by about 14 miles, are the Government giving the highest priority to building a suitably designed bridge?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, I can confirm that the Government are giving the highest priority to designing a suitable bridge. However, it must be kept in mind that the original contract price was approximately £30 million and that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State was entitled to decline that offer from the consortium. As I indicated in my reply, other alternatives are now being actively pursued and we hope to bring the matter to a decision very quickly.

Lord BALFOUR of INCHRYE

My Lords, as regards the proposed bridge, does the Minister appreciate that the link to the North of Scotland will really be incomplete unless the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths are likewise dealt with by bridges?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, at the moment, the Kessock Bridge has the ultimate priority, particularly as a consequence of the recent decision of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland on the Nigg Bay refinery.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE

My Lords, can the noble Lord tell the House what is the state of play on the crossing of the Dornoch Firth?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, the crossing of the Dornoch Firth forms part of the overall Scottish transport plan, and consultation and thought are being given to the long-term strategy involved.

Lord CAMPBELL of CROY

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the crossing of the three firths was announced by the Government in 1970? In response to the last question, can he say how the hydrological survey for the Dornoch Firth crossing has progressed?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, although the survey report has not yet appeared, I can say that I am aware that it is almost complete.

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