§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many miles of road have been detrunked in the United Kingdom in 1975, 1974 and 1973;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report details of the six counties in which the greatest mileage of roads were detrunked in 1975, 1974 and 1973; and in which six counties the greatest mileage of roads are planned to be detrunked;
(3) how many miles of road have been detrunked in Gloucestershire in 1975, 1974 and 1973; and how many miles are planned in the immediate future.
§ Mr. MarksSome 20 miles of trunk road in England were detrunked in the financial year 1973–74, 80 miles in 1974–75 and 120 miles in 1975–76. Figures are readily available on a county basis only for 1975–76, when the six counties with the highest mileage of roads detrunked were Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Suffolk, Cornwall, Oxfordshire and Northumberland. In the same year 1.4 miles were detrunked in Gloucestershire.
Following the review of the trunk road network completed last year, proposals for further detrunking are now under discussion with local authorities. In Gloucestershire some 90 miles of trunk road have been identified as possible 428W candidates for detrunking. The precise mileage detrunked in all counties will depend on the outcome of the current discussions.
Trunk roads in the rest of the United Kingdom are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the other Secretaries of State.
§ Mr. Watkinsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria used to decide whether or not a road should be detrunked.
§ Mr. MarksTrunk road status should be limited to those routes necessary for a national system catering for through traffic.