HL Deb 16 June 1986 vol 476 cc587-8
Baroness Nicol

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

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what instructions have been issued to the Department of Transport regarding the construction or upgrading of roads in national parks following the controversy over the Okehampton Bypass.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)

My Lords, no new instructions have been issued. The policy on roads in national parks remains as stated in the Department of the Environment Circular 4/76.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply. Does not the Minister recall that one of the great difficulties during the Okehampton controversy was the worry about delay because the Ministry had gone ahead with working up that road and had not worked up alternatives? Does not the Minister consider that clearer instructions should be issued about roads in national parks to prevent the same thing happening again?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I recall many matters during our discussions on Okehampton, and I understand that the policy followed on this occasion was similar to that on previous occasions.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, I am sorry to press the Minister further, but there is a very strong rumour circulating at the moment that the CBI is trying to revive the motorway through the Peak District. Does the Minister know whether that is so? Is he able to confirm whether the department is working on that at the moment?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, there are two schemes in the national roads programme which will affect national parks. There are also two schemes in the regional programmes which will affect national parks. If the noble Baroness would like to be more specific I may be able to help on the one to which she refers.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, it is the motorway between Manchester and Sheffield; I think it is called the Longdendale Road. It is a road which has been rejected in the past, but the rumour that it is to be revived is strong. Can the Minister give an answer in that respect?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, it does not appear on my briefing, so perhaps the noble Baroness will allow me to write to her on that matter.

Lord Underhill

My Lords, I think the noble Earl referred to four schemes in all. Will he write to my noble friend, and to others of us who are concerned with this matter, giving details of the four schemes?

The Earl of Caithness

My Lords, I can help the House. The four schemes are the A.65, Gargrave Bypass, where no objections were received on public consultation, and the A.590 High and Low Newton Bypass, where the villages lie within several miles of the Lake District National Park. The two regional schemes are the A.6 Taddington Dale improvement and the A.68 White Lee improvement.

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