HC Deb 15 January 2001 vol 361 cc18-9W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action he proposes to take following the judgment of the House of Lords in the case of Goodesv. East Sussex; and if he will make a statement. [145719]

Mr. Hill

The judgment was that there was no duty on local highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980 to remove ice from highways. Nevertheless, we expect authorities to continue to salt their roads in icy conditions in accordance with their Code of Good Practice on Highway Maintenance, which has been in place since 1989. All our soundings with local highway authorities have confirmed that it is their intention to maintain existing practices.

We have instructed the Highways Agency to continue its usual practice of keeping motorways and trunk roads free of ice and snow.

Road users should follow the advice in the Highway Code that they should drive extremely carefully when the roads are icy.