§ 43. Mr. O'Malleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the total estimated cost of the proposed improvement of the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation approved by him will be devoted to environmental improvement.
§ Mr. Graham PageThis proposed scheme is designed to facilitate freight carrying on the waterway. In so far as the improved waterway would divert traffic from roads and take on a more attractive appearance, there would be environmental benefits. These possibilities were fully taken into account before reaching our decision to seek more concrete evidence that the improved waterway would indeed attract the additional traffic necessary to give an economic return and realise such benefits.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum size and capacity of barges using the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation 113W at the present time and the maximum size and capacity of vessels which could use this waterway if it is modernised in accordance with British Waterways Board proposals.
§ Mr. Graham PageThe section of the navigation proposed to be improved takes barges of up to 90 tons capacity. The improvement would enable barges of up to 700 tons to reach Mexborough and up to 350 tons to reach Tinsley.