§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are his reasons for withholding publication of cost-benefit analyses for the alternative 469W routes for the M25 between Maple Cross and Egham;
(2) if he will undertake to consider as a matter of urgency the publication of cost-benefit analyses for all possible routes for the M25 immediately north of the Maple Cross to Hunton Bridge section of the north orbital road; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport under what circumstances he would be prepared to order further public consultation concerning the building of the London outer orbital route between Maple Cross and Egham; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoramIf my right hon. Friend were to be satisfied that a significant variation from the preferred route announced in November 1976 should be adopted. It is, however, my right hon. Friend's intention to publish draft proposals for the outstanding sections of the route between Heathrow Airport spur and Maple cross later this year.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport why there has been an alteration in plans so as to postpone the completion of the Maple Cross to Denham section of the M25; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoramThe Department has reappraised the length of time likely to be required to complete the various statutory procedures. There will be no avoidable delay.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Eastern Road Construction Unit to complete the design process and oil surveys necessary for the Maple Cross to Egham section of the M25; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoramSoil and topographical surveys should be completed shortly. Design work is continuing with the object of publishing draft proposals for the outstanding sections of the route between Heathrow Airport spur and Maple Cross later this year.
470W
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he expects to hold a public inquiry into the Maple Cross to Egham section of the M25 after the publication of the necessary statutory orders.
§ Mr. HoramRunnymede Bridge (Egham) is under construction; the route of the section between Runnymede Bridge and Yeoveney has already been fixed, and associated orders made, after a public inquiry. The decision whether to hold public inquiries following the publication of statutory proposals for the other sections of the motorway will be taken by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, after consideration of the number and nature of objections received.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the M25 Maple Cross to Egham to be completed.
§ Mr. HoramRunnymede Bridge (Egham) is under construction; the contract completion date is July 1979. Subject to the satisfactory completion of all statutory procedures and to the availability of funds at the time, we expect construction of the sections between Runnymede Bridge and Yeoveney to begin later this year, between Yeoveney and Heathrow Airport spur in 1979 or 1980 and between the airport spur and Maple Cross in the time-band 1981–83. We would expect the sections between Runnymede Bridge and the Airport spur to take about 2½ years to complete. Construction of the M25 between Heathrow Airport spur and Maple Crfoss is likely to be carried out in several contracts, which may be of different durations, but we aim to complete the whole of this length at the same time.