HC Deb 02 December 1982 vol 33 cc275-6W
Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) why he has published draft orders for the M1-A1 link road before providing Daventry district council with the relevant costings and other information necessary to make a proper comparison between this proposal and the alternative strategy favoured by the district council and the parish councils representing people affected by the western section of the proposed link road, as the Under-Secretary of State indicated when she met council representatives in July;

(2) whether he will take steps to provide Daventry district council with all the information it requires to assess the relative merits of the M1-A1 link road and the alternative strategy.

Mrs. Chalker

As I told my right hon. Friend and the council's representatives in July, we are keen to commence public debate on the proposals for this important scheme. The draft orders have been published so that public debate can proceed.

My Department has already provided the council, and its consulting engineers, with substantial amounts of the information it has asked for. We shall do all we can to provide the remainder as soon as it is available. In the meantime discussions are continuing between my officials and the council's representatives.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what are the latest estimated costs of building the proposed M1-A1 link road between Catthorpe and Thrapston and of the alternative strategy of completing the planned A45 improvements as far as Thrapston and improving the A427 and the A6116.

Mrs. Chalker

The estimated costs at November 1981 prices are as follows:

  1. (a) constructing the M1-A1 link road between Catthorpe and Thrapston £70m
  2. (b) the alternative strategy of completing the planned A45 improvements as far as Thrapston and improving the A427 and A6116 £50m
However, even if the improvements of the A45, A427 and A6116 were carried out—and there are no plans for improving the A427—they would not do all that the M1-A1 link road is planned to do.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment is available to his Department of the relative benefits to industry in the Midlands of speeding up east-west traffic flows by (a) improving the A45 and the A427 and (b) building the western section of the M1-A1 link road.

Mrs. Chalker

The western section of the M1-A1 link road would provide a more direct and satisfactory route between the Midlands and the east coast ports. Typical journey times between common points would be 63 minutes via the M1-A1 link, 72 minutes via an improved A45, and 85 minutes via an improved A427. The western section of the M1-A1 link would also be the quickest and most effective way of improving access to Corby and Kettering, which are in urgent need of improved road communications.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has held with the Council for the Preservation of Rural England arising from its objections to the western section of the proposed M1-A1 link road.

Mrs. Chalker

None, though the council has made its views clear in correspondence.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has held on the effect on agriculture of the proposed M1-A1 link road; and how many farms would be wholly or partially affected.

Mrs. Chalker

My Department has consulted regularly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. In all, 108 farms would be affected in some way.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he has held on the effect of the proposed M1-A1 link road on the site of the Naseby battlefield; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

My Department is in regular touch with the Society for the Preservation of the Field of the Battle of Naseby. I understand the strength of feeling on this issue and I am anxious to limit the effect on the site as far as practicable.

Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for Transport why a statement by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 19 August, ruled out a route for the M1-A1 link road passing south of Naseby because ground conditions were unsuitable, in view of the suggestion in the draft scheme first published, that the road might pass north or south of Naseby.

Mrs. Chalker

A southern route avoiding the bad ground conditions would be closer to the village than envisaged at the time of public consultation in 1974. The draft orders just published therefore provide that the road will pass north, not south, of Naseby, but a final decision will not be taken until we have fully considered all the objections and representations received, together with the report and recommendations of the inspector conducting the public inquiry. We are displaying, alongside the draft orders, plans of a viable southern route so that the merits of both can be fully considered at the inquiry.