§ Mr. Wardasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his review of the roads programme.
§ Mr. FowlerI am reviewing the programme in the light of progress over the last year and prospects for the future. I want to do all I can to speed bypass schemes carrying heavy lorry traffic. The review is not yet complete. I have, however, identified four badly needed schemes on which we should be able to make a start in 1982 subject to completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the availability of funds. they include the major bypass for Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whalley Bridge 347W which will take heavy lorry traffic out of the two communities where homes front directly on the road. In his recent report Sir Arthur Armitage drew particular attention to existing conditions there. Widening M63 Barton high-level bridge will both eliminate one of the worst bottlenecks in the country and remove a major obstacle to a new link to take lorries, including those carrying dangerous goods, from the Carrington petrochemical complex off the local residential road system. Two smaller schemes, the Basingstoke northern bypass, stage 2 and the A27 Langstone flyover will improve conditions both for heavy traffic and for the people who live and work nearby.
I will make a further announcement about the programme beyond 1982 as soon as my review has been completed.