§ Lord Molloyasked Her Majesty's Government:
When, in view of alarm at the increasing use of roads in inner London and the suburbs by juggernaut lorries, they expect the completion of the M.25: and what other measures are contemplated.
§ The Lord Lucas of ChilworthSubject to the successful completion of outstanding statutory624WA procedures, the M.25 should be completed during 1986. This will have a significant effect on reducing through lorry traffic in London. The department also has a substantial trunk road programme to benefit Greater London, including improvements to the North Circular Road and its extension to the M.2 via a new East London river crossing and other schemes serving the development of docklands. Our proposals for the reallocation of highways and traffic responsibilities in London, published on 7th October, make clear our intention to extend the key trunk routes serving London. Traffic management on non-trunk road is currently a GLC responsibility and they are now giving detailed consideration to the feasibility of a London-wide night time and weekend ban on heavy lorries, following receipt of the Wood Report. Local authorities are expected to use their powers to control lorries through the designation of lorry routes in a selective way which balances the needs of industry and commerce with the need to preserve a decent environment. We await the GLC's proposals with interest.