§ Mr. Michael McGuireasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will instruct chief constables to ensure that motorists who act on police advice to use a certain route, particularly on big sporting occasions, will find that the suggested route will make for a safer, quicker and easier journey because adequate planning has been made for the reception and dispersal of motor cars at both ends;
(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to why motorists from the Merseyside and South Lancashire areas, who were travelling to Manchester City's football ground to watch the replayed Amateur Cup Final, were encouraged by the police to travel via the A580 and the M62 without adequate provision being made by the police authority, 129W which resulted in the A580 and the M62 being blocked.
§ Mr. Roy JenkinsI have no authority to instruct chief officers of police in operational matters, but I am satisfied that they take all reasonable steps to ensure that traffic directions imposed and advice given by the police are such as to achieve the maximum traffic flow consistent with safety.
I am informed that because of roadworks traffic had to be diverted from the A56 to the A6 trunk road at Salford on 29th April. This affected the A580 trunk road, which with the M62 was the only route left available for persons travelling from Liverpool to the Maine Road, Manchester football ground. An additional load was placed on these roads by persons travelling from Manchester to the Everton club ground.
In these circumstances some congestion and delay was unavoidable. All the available police officers were on duty to facilitate the flow of traffic.