HC Deb 03 July 1973 vol 859 cc92-5W
Mr. J. H. Osborn

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the effect on the trunk road programme of the recently announced cuts in public expenditure.

Mr. Peyton

I have now completed a review of the trunk road programme to determine how savings are to be made to reduce Government expenditure in 1974–75 and to direct resources to the support of the Government's housing policies. Accordingly, this financial year I expect to authorise for start of work, subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory and other necessary procedures, the following major schemes:

  • A34 London Road Roundabout (A4) Newbury to Chieveley (M4), Berks.
  • A66 Fitz Cottage to Peel Wyke, Cumberland (incl. Cockermouth Bypass).
  • A2 Boughton and Dunkirk Bypass, Kent.
  • A34 Whitchurch and Litchfield Bypass, Hants.
  • A66 Brough Bypass, Westmorland.
  • A66 Greta Bridge Bypass, North Riding.
  • All Cringleford Bypass, Norfolk.
  • A10 Littleport Bridge, Cambs and Isle of Ely.
  • A406 Colney Hatch Lane Flyover, Friern Barnet.
  • A66 Keswick Northern Bypass, Cumberland.
  • A417 Cirencester Eastern Bypass, Glos.
  • M62 Queens Drive (Liverpool) to Tarbock.
  • A64 York Bypass, W. & E. Riding.
  • B18 Wadworth-Hatfield (Armthorpe-Hatfield) W. Riding.
  • A3 Esher Bypass, Surrey.
  • M25 Egham-Thorpe, Surrey.
  • A10 Ware Bypass, Herts.
  • M11 Contract 4A/A120-Quendon.
  • A45 Meriden Bypass (GSJ at Shepherds Lane) Warwicks.
  • A405, A41 to A412, Garston, Herts.
  • A3 Ripley Bypass, Surrey.
  • A3 Pains Hill to Ockham Road, Surrey.
  • A127 Flyover at Junction (Halfway House), Essex.
  • M42 Solihull Section, Warwicks.
  • A282 Dartford-Swanley, Kent.
  • M20 Swanley Bypass to Wrotham, Kent.
  • M5 Chelston-Willand (Wellington Bypass), Somerset.
  • A127 Rayleigh Weir Roundabout, Essex.
  • M11 Contracts 2 Loughton-South Harlow, Essex.
  • A2 Harbledowns Bypass Stage I, Kent.
  • A303 Marsh Diversion, Devon.
  • A303 Wylye Bypass, Wilts.
  • A419 Cricklade Bypass, Wilts.
  • A361 Mulverton Bypass, Somerset.
  • A405 Humming Bird to Park Street, Herts.
  • M62 Extension Balkholme-Caves Bypass, E. Riding.
  • A2 North of Lydden to Dover, Kent.
  • A30 Launceston Bypass, Cornwall.
  • Pearce's Hill to Pocombe Link, Devon.
  • A38 Southern Access of M5 to Gloucester.
  • A36 Junction with City Relief Road, Salisbury, Wilts.
  • A2 Harbledown Bypass Stage II, Kent.
  • A2 Bridge Bypass, Kent.
  • A31 Bratley Diversion, Hants.
  • A419 Stratton St. Margaret Bypass, Wilts.
  • A446 Curdworth Bridges (Chattle Hill to Hams Lane) Warwicks.
  • M67 Hyde Bypass, Cheshire.
  • M180 Brigg Bypass, Lindsey.
  • M11 Contract 4B Quendon-Stumps Cross.
  • A20 Limekiln Viaduct (Permanent Works) Kent.
  • A12 Ufford and Wickham Market Bypass, E. Suffolk.
  • A41M Tring Bypass, Herts.
  • M69 Coventry to Leicester, Warwicks, Leics
    • 94
  • M180 Thorne-Scunthorpe.
  • M5 Sandy Gate to Pearces Hill (Incl. Pearces Hill to Wobby Wheel TR Link) Devon.
  • Safety Barriers, Service Areas and Motorway Communications (Ml, M4, M5, M6, M11, M18, M40, M45, M56, M61 and A423 (M)).

Total Estimated Works Cost £218 million.

The list above has had to be limited to restrict expenditure. However, I hope to be able in the first part of 1974–75 to authorise the following schemes for start of work, subject, of course to the same conditions as for this year's list:

  • A69 Hexham and Corbridge By-pass, Northumberland.
  • A66 Chapel Brow to Cockermouth (Fitz Cottage), Cumberland.
  • A66 Peel Wyke to Braithwaite, Cumberland.
  • A127 Nevendon Roundabout, Basildon, Essex.
  • A4 "Peggy Bedford" to Stanwell Road Exit, Hillingdon.
  • A38 Liskeard Bypass Cornwall.
  • A34 M4 to Ashridge Farm, Berks.
  • A45 Western Access to National Exhibition Centre, Warwicks.
  • A55 Chester Southern Bypass (English Section), Cheshire.
  • A34 Botley Interchange, Berks.
  • A303 Mere Bypass.
  • A580 Grade Separation at Irlam O'Th' Heights Junction (A580/A6/A666).
  • A41 Hunton Bridge to Courtlands Drive Junction, Herts.
  • A13 Lodge Lane From W. of Hogg Lane to Daneholes Roundabout, Essex.
  • M66 Bury Easterly Bypass (North Section), Lanes.
  • M58 Aintree-Skelmersdale-M6 Link, Lanes.
  • A16 Boston Inner Relief Road, Stage 2, Holland.
  • M42 Tamworth Water Orton Contract, Warwicks.
  • A463 Bilston Link (Willenhall Section), Staffs.
  • A47 East Dereham Bypass, Stage 1, Norfolk.
  • M25 Godstone (A22) to Sevenoaks (A21), Kent and Surrey.
  • M25 Sevenoaks to Wrotham, Kent.
  • M27 Chilworth to Windhover, Hants.
  • Ml Widening between Berrygrove and Breakspears, Herts.
  • Total Estimated Works Costs £103 million.

My review has been related to the Government's objectives for their trunk road programme set out in the policy statement to the House on 23rd June 1971. In particular, I have been concerned to press ahead with the improvement of access to the major ports, and with the provision of bypasses to relieve towns and villages from long-distance lorry traffic.

Towards the end of the year, I hope to announce the full list of schemes expected to be ready for authorisation of start of work during 1974–75. However, to keep future expenditure within restricted levels, I have decided that authorisation for the following schemes must be deferred until at least 1975–76 and possibly later:

  • A40 Northleach Bypass, Glos.
  • A49 Brimfield to Ashton, Herefordshire and Salop.
  • A61 Ripley-Swanwick-Alfreton Bypass, Derbys.
  • A5111 Ashbourne Road—Allestree Impt., Derbys.
  • A40 Gloucester Northern Bypass.
  • A10 Brandon Creek to South Runcton, Norfolk.
  • A40 Witney Bypass, Oxfordshire.
  • A41M Kings Langley Bypass, Herts.
  • A41M Berkhamsted Bypass, Herts.
  • A39 St. Columb Bypass, Cornwall.
  • A39 Marshgate Diversion, Cornwall.
  • A1 Alnwick Bypass Stage 2, Northumberland.
  • A65 Addingham Bypass, W. Riding.
  • A614 Arnold Bypass, Notts.
  • A35 Dorchester Bypass, Dorset.
  • A35 Bridport, Bypass.
  • A12 Kesgrave and Martlesham Bypass.
  • Total Estimated Works Cost £54 million.