§ Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report what publicity he has given to the M63-Barton bridge motorway works and to the alternative routes indicating at which areas such publicity has been aimed.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIn November we met representatives of the national motoring organisations, public transport operators, road hauliers, local industry and the local emergency services to discuss alternative routes for all types of traffic to avoid the Barton bridge area. My own visit to the region in March included a press conference and TV interviews about it. A 24-hour telephone answering service was established and a site liaison officer is available to answer queries. Over a million pamphlets illustrating recommended alternative routes were released to the public via travel agents, local authorities, police stations, motorway service areas, public libraries and the motoring organisations. A regular Barton bridge bulletin is published for use by the media and gives the latest information on the traffic situation.
The publicity campaign has been aimed at both local and longer distance traffic. I am grateful for the ready assistance we have received from the press, from BBC and independent radio and television, from motorway and industrial organisations and from Manchester international airport.