HC Deb 21 December 1972 vol 848 cc436-8W
Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria used in determining whether or not the construction of either a bridge or underpass is justified, primarily for the purpose of providing access to farmers and other persons employed in similar occupations, in rural areas where road improvement schemes divide or interfere with their particular economic activities.

Mr. Speed

Each case is considered on its merits, taking into account any alternative means of access, the cost of paying compensation to those affected where appropriate, road safety and the national agricultural interest.

Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for each year since 1960 the number of bridges and underpasses that have been constructed primarily for the purpose of facilitating continued effective working of existing farm units, and other similar economic activities, following disturbance resulting from motorway development and major trunk road improvement schemes, and the cost involved of providing these bridges and underpasses.

Mr. Speed

The precise answer to this Question would involve extensive effort, and cost well in excess of £50 to prepare. On a sampling basis, approximate figures for motorways are given in the table.

Year Estimated number of over- and under- bridges for farm access Estimated Cost
£
1960 20 336,000
1961 11 185,000
1962 26 436,000
1963 50 880,000
1964 4 70,000
1965 39 694,000
1966 26 494,000
1967 39 765,000
1968 17 345,000
1969 21 452,000
1970 50 1,160,000
1971 109 2,720,000
1972 17 456,000
429 8,993,000

Mr. Hicks

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of the members, together with their designations, of his Department's advisory committee on the landscaping, including tree-planting, of motorways, and other major trunk roads; what was the number of occasions on which this committee met in each year since 1970; and what have been their principal recommendations during this period.

Mr. Speed

The Advisory Committee on Landscaping Treatment of Trunk Roads meets, on average, 10 times a year; in addition, 113 inspections of proposed routes were carried out in the period 1970–72. The membership of the committee is as follows:

Chairman:

Sir George Taylor, FRS, DSc, FRSE, FLS, VMH.

Vice Chairman:

Sir Lawrence Kirwan, KCMG, TD.

Members:

  • Col. Sir Henry Abel Smith, KCMG, KCVO, DSO.
  • C. S. Darvill, Esq., CBE.
  • D. R. Greig, Esq., OBE.
  • J. St. Bodfan Gruffydd, Esq., PPILA.
  • B. de Hamel, Esq.
  • Col. F. M. Hill, CBE.
  • E Hodgkin, Esq.
    • 438
  • The Hon. Trevor Lewis.
  • Sir Giles Loder, Bt., FLS.
  • D. Lovejoy, Esq., MA (Harvard), Dip TP, FRIBA, FRTPI, PILA, FRSA.
  • J. F. W. Rathbone, Esq., CBE, TD.
  • The right hon. The Earl of Rosse, MBE, MA, LLD, MRIA, FSA.
  • F. R. Waley, Esq., MC.
  • Professor A. E. Weddle, ARIBA, MTPI, FILA.
  • E. R. Wheatley-Hubbard, Esq., FRICS.
  • N. Whittaker, Esq., MA, B.Arch, ARIBA.
  • R. Winter, Esq., ARIBA, AILA.
  • Professor M. J. Wise, MC, PhD, FRGS.

The committee makes recommendations to the Secretary of State on the landscaping aspects of proposed routes which are referred to it.