§ Lord Mulleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will draw to the attention of their agents the excellent written reply given to Lord Mulley by Lord Lucas of Chilworth on 2nd July (col. 135) on road closures, viz. that such closures should be limited to two miles wherever possible and that cones should be removed as soon as 392WA possible after works are completed, since the said agents seem unaware of this policy, as for example on the south carriageway of M.5 between Tewkesbury and Bristol on 16th July last.
§ Lord Lucas of Chilworth: The Department of Transport's agent authorities are already aware of the need to limit lane closures to two miles wherever possible and to remove the cones as soon as possible after works are completed. There will, however, be occasions when it is not possible to comply exactly with those requirements.
The case to which the noble Lord refers is a good example. Two lanes of the M.5 Motorway between junctions 9 and 10 had to be closed from 10.30 a.m. until 3.00 p.m. on 16th July so that a survey of the condition of the surface could be carried out.