HC Deb 01 May 1984 vol 59 cc107-8W
Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if, in view of his statement on 3 April concerning the route of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass in the vicinity of the Brookside garden centre that the northern option would fit in better with the likely route of the Poynton bypass, he will indicate the likely route of this bypass and, in particular, its northern starting point; (2) if, in the light of his decision announced on 3 April concerning the route of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass in the vicinity of the Brookside garden centre and its implications for the likely route of the Poynton bypass, he has given any instructions to the consultants investigating possible routes for that bypass as to lines which are compatible with this decision; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

The northern section of a Poynton bypass would, in all probability, use part of the route which the Cheshire county council and Greater Manchester council are protecting for a new link to Ringway airport. That route continues directly westwards from the chosen position for the A6(M)/A523 junction north of Brookside garden centre.

The recently announced study which will deal with the Poynton bypass is to be carried out by these two councils, which will be fully aware of the relationship with the A6(M).

Mr. Arnold

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report the economic benefits arising from (a) the northern and (b) the southern routes of the A6(M) Stockport north-south bypass in the vicinity of the Brookside garden centre; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Chalker

An A6(M) bypass incorporating the rejected southern option, although more expensive, was expected to give a better economic return than the chosen route. Over the full 30-year period considered in our evaluations, the present value of the economic benefits for road users could have been about £600,000 to £900,000 higher, depending on the rate of traffic growth. Economic value was only one of the factors considered before I decided that the northern option was, on balance, the better.