HC Deb 28 January 1976 vol 904 cc203-5W
Mr. Rippon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what grant the Government are making towards the construction of the southern section of the

  1. (a) assuming 10 per cent. redistribution of needs element within inner London under the scheme;
  2. (b) assuming no redistribution.

The figures are based on the estimates used in the exemplification attached to the Department's letter of 27th November, and have not been revised to take account of new data which have since become available.

Styford link road in the Hexham constituency; and whether he can give an assurance that this is without prejudice to the claims of other road improvements in Northumberland.

Mr. Crosland

The decision letter on the county councils transport policies and programme submission made it clear that sufficient funds were being made available to them to enable the southern section of the Styford link road to be constructed. The grant rate for any scheme which attracts grant is 70 per cent.

The regional controller is at present discussing with the county council the effect that the construction of Styford link might have on other improvements in Northumberland as indicated in the decision letter of 19th December 1975 stating the Department's allocation of funds.

Mr. Rippon

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposal to start the southern section of the Styford link road in the Hexham constituency is to be regarded as a complete scheme in itself or as the first stage of an integrated programme; and what is his view of likely traffic hazards if the link is only partially completed.

Mr. Crosland

Northumberland County Council is the highway authority and it is primarily for the council to satisfy itself whether or not the southern section of Styford link is a complete scheme in itself and what traffic hazards would remain if the link were only partially completed.

In allocating transport supplementary grant for 1976–77, however, the Department took the view that it was sensible and consistent to provide the whole scheme and informed the county council that it would be disappointing if it was unable to proceed. It remains for the county council to decide how to use its TSG funds.

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