A.66 Trunk Road (Hansard, 2 May 1984)

Viscount Rochdale
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, the previously proposed Temple Sowerby-Whinfell House and Kirkby Thore-Crackenthorpe bypass schemes were cancelled by the White Paper, Policy for Roads in England: 1983, which was published in September last year. The schemes rated a low priority and it would have been many years before resources could have been made available for such construction.
It was decided, therefore, that quicker possible solutions to problems on these two sections of the A.66 should be investigated through more modest schemes. Cumbria County Council, as agents for the Department of Transport, are examining the problems now present, and likely solutions, in the context of today's traffic and future predictions.

Viscount Rochdale
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for, at any rate, clarifying the situation. Would he not agree that the completion of the Clifton bypass, near Workington, means that every other village and town on the A.66–80 miles in length from Scotch Corner to the west coast of Cumberland—will have been bypassed, with the exception of the two villages mentioned in my Question? Will my noble friend not bear in mind, and will he not agree with me, that that being the case, it is natural that the flow of traffic should increase substantially, as it is doing today, and that the proportion of heavy-duty vehicles should be far above the national average, with the 539 result that the disturbance, distress, and, indeed, danger, to the villagers is becoming very acute? Therefore, would he not agree that this situation can hardly be in keeping with the White Paper to which he referred—Policy for Roads in England: 1983—which says that one of the main objects of road policy is to keep heavy-duty vehicles away from people?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I accept the first part of what my noble friend said with regard to the section of road on the A.66. We are, of course, concerned with the 66-mile section from Penrith down to Scotch Corner. The noble Viscount will know that the first part of the improvements to which he referred took place in 1976. Since then there have been changes in policy, and I have to repeat that the particular scheme at Temple Sowerby rated a low priority, particularly in terms of timescale. Since it would have taken many years to implement the original scheme, it was felt better to replace some of the grand strategies for cross-country improvements by more localised schemes. I can tell the noble Viscount that the studies currently being undertaken will have regard to the flow of traffic (some 6,000 vehicles per day) and will be particularly geared to the distress and danger points to which the noble Viscount has referred.

§ Lord Glenamara
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that those of us who know this part of the country and who live there find his Answer totally inadequate and unacceptable? Is he further aware that, as the noble Viscount, Lord Rochdale, said, this is the only village on the whole of the A.66 from the A.l(M) to West Cumberland which has not been bypassed; that it is one of the most beautiful villages in the country without any doubt whatever; and also that there is a constant flow of heavy traffic through this village which, because of the lie of the road, does not slow down when it goes through the village so that it is becoming increasingly difficult for villagers to get from one side of the village to the other? Will he now replace this bypass in his plans, because the solutions he talks about are no solutions at all? The only solution to the Temple Sowerby problem is a bypass. Will he now replace it?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I am well aware of the interest that the noble Lord, Lord Glenamara, has in this village. I am sorry that he finds my Answer totally unacceptable. I am also aware that this is the only village out of five villages on the stretch of road which has not yet been bypassed. I have to say that I do not know the village myself, but I accept what he says about its beauty. I have further to say: no, the Government will not reconsider their decision to abandon the scheme, which was removed in the 1983 White Paper. From the census of traffic that has been taken, I know that there has been a modest increase in the number of heavy vehicles since the other bypasses were opened; but we believe that this matter can be better and far more quickly contained if we look to more modest schemes, particularly those of traffic management. The current study, which will be finished by the end of the summer, should produce some of the answers upon which action can then be very quickly taken.

Lord Inglewood
My Lords, can my noble friend please confirm not only that we had a flow of 6,000 vehicles per 24-hour period, as was mentioned, but that, even though he referred to a modest increase in traffic density on that road, the figure calculated only a few weeks ago was 7,500—an increase of 25 per cent.—which is far beyond the modest increase which the Minister has just mentioned?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I understand what my noble friend has to say, but in fact I said that it was a modest increase in the number of heavy goods vehicles.

§ Lord Underhill
My Lords, does the Minister recall that some months ago there were Questions and supplementary questions on the report of the Civic Trust dealing with bypasses and the juggernaut, and that on that occasion apprehensions were voiced that by the 1990s quite a number of villages and towns would not be in a bypass programme? Does he agree that the points that have been made this afternoon further justify that concern?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I recall the exchanges with regard to the report of the Civic Trust. If I remember correctly, we said on that occasion, and we say it again, that we were obliged to the Civic Trust for the report. We thought that it had underestimated the number of bypasses which had already been contructed and the effects that they were having, but we nevertheless accepted some part of the criticism. We invited the Civic Trust—an invitation which it has since taken up—to discuss with us the general matter to which the noble Lord, Lord Underhill, refers.

Lord Paget of Northampton
My Lords, will the noble Lord consider giving Temple Sowerby the unnecessary and unwanted bypass which is being wished on Market Harborough?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I am sure that the noble Lord. Lord Paget, will agree that that is a little way away from Temple Sowerby.

Lord Paget of Northampton
My Lords, I thought it most apt.

Lord Hunt
My Lords, will the Minister tell the House whether, in view of the particular quality and character of this village and its relationship with the national park, his colleagues in the Department of the Environment and the Countryside Commission have been brought into full consultation?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I beg the pardon of the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, but I did not hear the last part of his question. Perhaps he will repeat it.

Lord Hunt
My Lords, the burden of my question was whether, in view of the particular quality and character of the village which is not to be bypassed and in view of its relationship with the national park, the Department of the Environment and the Countryside Commission have been consulted in the decision which has been reached.

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I can say that consultation has taken place with all those in government departments of state who are interested. But I think it might be more helpful if I responded a little differently to the noble Lord and said that we regard this matter as of sufficient importance to have sent a team of officials who will be at Temple Sowerby to discuss matters with the local action group this very night.

§ Lord Ferrier
My Lords, does the noble Lord appreciate that the absence of a bypass for the City of Edinburgh means that the main route for traffic, including heavy vehicles, between England and Scotland is deeply concerned with facilities on the A.66 and that there is a link between the two?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I accept what the noble Lord, Lord Ferrier, says about there being a link. He will I think accept that that, again, is rather wide of the original Question.

§ Lord Henderson of Brompton
My Lords, the Minister has talked about more modest proposals. Does he agree that the proposal now put forward by the residents of Temple Sowerby is indeed a modest scheme for a short, single carriageway bypass of only just over one mile? Is that not a very reasonable proposal by comparison with the previous proposal for a bypass in this area and all the other much more extravagant bypasses (some of us think rather too extravagant) that there have been during the past 10 years?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I very much accept what the noble Lord, Lord Henderson of Brompton, has said. The more modest scheme to which he has referred, which is currently costed at something just over £1 million, is one of the solutions which form part of the current studies. It cannot be considered in isolation from others, but it will certainly receive favourable consideration. I have said, and I repeat, that these studies will be completed this summer. My department will be taking an early decision on those studies which will include that which the noble Lord has suggested.

Viscount Rochdale
My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he will convey to his right honourable friend the Secretary of State the fact that this is a very urgent matter, and also the strength of feeling of the vast majority of villagers in Temple Sowerby, even to the extent of an unfortunate feeling of considerable bitterness?

§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth
My Lords, I can give my noble friend that assurance. I hope he will accept that the answers I have given this afternoon have expressed a degree of urgency on the part of the Government. I repeat that that is one of the reasons why a team of officials from my department has gone to Temple Sowerby today. We have no wish to distress the 279 inhabitants of the village, and would wish to find quick solutions to the problems which my noble friend has indicated.