§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will require that wherever possible on any stretch of the M25 that might be built between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms, the motorway be enclosed by a three-metre high noise-reducing bank on either side.
§ Mr. MarksThe nature and design of any noise reduction measures will depend on a number of factors, including cost effectiveness, visual appearance, land take and the relative levels of the road and its surroundings.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the terms of reference of the inspector appointed by his Department for the purposes of any public inquiry into the proposed building of the London Outer Orbital Road between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make all the traffic flow statistical information which is relevant to the proposed M25 development between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms available to objectors by the end of August 1976; and, if not, when he intends to do so.
§ Mr. MarksNo, my right hon. Friend does not expect to publish his draft proposals under the Highways Act before the latter half of next year. Factual traffic information used in formulating those proposals will be made available to objectors in accordance with the inquiries procedures rules, should a public inquiry subsequently be held.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold two separate public inquiries for the proposed stretch of the London Outer Orbital Road between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms, one for the eastern section and one for the western section.
§ Mr. MarksIt is too early to say. My right hon. Friend has not yet decided whether the proposals for this section of the London Outer Orbital Road will be contained in one or more draft Orders 173W under the Highways Acts. Each draft Order may be the subject of a separate public inquiry and inquiries into a number of Orders may be held concurrently.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to publish a cost-benefit analysis for each or for any of the three possible routes for the M25 London Outer Orbital Road immediately north of the Maple Cross to Hunton Bridge stretch of the North Orbital Road.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give a breakdown of the estimated cost of each of the three possible routes for the London Outer Orbital Road for the western section of the proposed stretch between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms, paying particular attention to the proposals his Department has for noise reduction measures and landscaping.
§ Mr. MarksThe Department's consultation document issued in 1974 gave estimated costs at November 1974 prices for the various routes which were subject to consultation. More detailed figures for the preferred route announced in March are not yet available, as detailed design work, which will include investigation of noise reduction and landscaping measures, is still proceeding.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will inform all households likely to be affected by any of the possible routes for the London Outer Orbital Road between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms by individual letter, at least two months beforehand, of the exact date and place of the public inquiry.
§ Mr. MarksNo, but details will be published in local newspapers at least six weeks before a public inquiry.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department has reviewed its traffic forecasts for the London Outer Orbital Road between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms since 1973; and, if so, to what effect.
174W
§ Mr. MarksYes; they confirm that this section of the London Orbital Route continues to merit high priority and that construction of a new motorway is urgently required.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to have further public consultations concerning the building of the London Outer Orbital Road between Maple Cross and Egham.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the preferred route for the M25 London Outer Orbital Road from Maple Cross to Egham.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish cost-benefit analyses for the alternative routes for the M25 between Maple Cross and Egham.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to announce the date of the public inquiry into the building of the M25 London Outer Orbital Road between Maple Cross and Egham.
§ Mr. MarksNo decision will be made on this until after the statutory proposals have been published.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what, according to his Department's estimate, is, and what will be, the traffic flow on, and the traffic capacity of, the A41-A405 North Orbital Road between Hunton Bridge and Waterdale in Watford, assuming that the construction of the London Outer Orbital Road between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms does not proceed.
§ Mr. MarksA figure of 3,100 vehicles was recorded between Garston and Water dale in one hour in May of this year during a morning peak. Assuming M25 does not proceed, the predicted flows in 175W 1993 are 108,000 vehicles per day on A41 between Hunton Bridge and A405, 70,700 vehicles per day on A405 between A41 and Garston, and 74,000 vehicles per day between Garston and Waterdale. The maximum flow rates recommended on these three sections are 55,000 vehicles per day, 35,000 vehicles per day and 40,000 vehicles per day respectively.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, for the public inquiry into the proposed building of the M25 between Hunton Bridge and South Mimms, he will consider appointing an inspector who has not had professional associations with road construction.
§ Mr. MarksI do not accept that a professional association with road construction should necessarily act as a disqualification in the selection of a suitable inspector.