§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is satisfied that long vehicles can negotiate sharp bends on the A6 at St. Paul's Square, Bedford, without endangering pedestrians and property and at the Broadway/St. Peters Street on the A428, particularly in view of the introduction of vehicles of increased tonnage.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThere is inevitably some risk to pedestrians and property, as in all cases where pedestrians and large vehicles share road space in urban areas. The higher maximum gross weights will not mean lorries larger than those already on the roads. New lorries will also be more manoeuvrable. My right hon. Friend is giving every encouragement to highway authorities to build bypasses, designate appropriate roads as lorry routes and to ban lorries where possible from inappropriate roads.