§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the wind speeds at the M48 Severn Bridge were at(a) 05:00, (b) 07:00, (c) 09:00, (d) 11:00, (e) 13:00 and (f) 15:00 hours on 3 November. [139938]
1459W
§ Mr. JamiesonI have asked the acting Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Stephen Hickey, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Stephen Hickey to Mr. Huw Edwards, dated 20 November 2003:
I have been asked by David Jamieson to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about wind speeds at the M48 Severn Bridge on Monday 3 November 2003.
The maximum recorded wind speed gusts at the times requested were:
- 05.00–38.44 knots
- 07.00–29.26 knots
- 09.00–22.01 knots
- 11.00–26.52 knots
- 13.00–31.06 knots
- 15.00–21.54 knots
As you know the Severn Bridge was closed from 05.10 on Sunday 2 November until 16.00 on Monday 3 November. Throughout this period forecasts were consistently in excess of 30 knots. The protocol then in place required that closures should remain in place until the gust wind speed had fallen and remained below 30 knots for 30 minutes and the forecast did not predict wind speeds increasing to over 30 knots within the next 4 hours.
As part of the process for continual improvement of our service, our protocol was subsequently reviewed at a meeting on Friday 14 November. The protocol was amended with immediate effect so that in future the closure shall remain in place until the gust wind speed has fallen and remains below 30 knots for 30 minutes and the forecast does not predict wind speeds increasing to over 40 knots within the next 4 hours.