§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates consultants were appointed for each section of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe information is as follows
M6 to M56: 8 June 1988.M56 to M62: 12 October 1989.M62 to M66: Preliminary investigations into this section of the relief road are being carried out by consultants who were appointed on 14 October 1987 to advise on the widening of the M62 motorway between junctions 12 and 18.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated construction cost of each section of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road at prices consistent with those indicated in the White Paper, Roads for Prosperity.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe estimated construction cost of each of the three sections at November 1987 prices is as follows:
- M6 to M56: £45 million
- M56 to M62: £105 million
- M62 to M66: £150 million
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the next stage in the public consultation process for the proposed section one M6 to M56, of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
§ Mr. AtkinsPublic consultation has just ended. We are now considering all the comments received. The next formal stage will be the announcement of a preferred route as a basis for orders under the Highways Acts.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the attendance by interested persons at each of the public consultation meetings regarding the proposals for section one M6 to M56 of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road.
§ Mr. AtkinsFifty representatives of local authorities attended a preview of the public exhibition; 1,272 members of the public attended the exhibition which was held over three days.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when it is anticipated that section three M62 to M66, of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road will be open for public consultation.
§ Mr. AtkinsNext year.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the current plan for the greater Manchester western and northern relief road, as indicated in the White Paper, Roads for Prosperity, was first conceived, and what is the date envisaged for the completion of its construction.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe greater Manchester western and northern relief road was conceived in its present form in 1988 during our review of trunk road needs leading to the publication of the 1989 White Paper "Roads for Prosperity". It is too early in the planning process to say when construction might be completed.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the consultants' brief for the centre section of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road allows for access and egress to be provided at the A57.
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§ Mr. AtkinsConnection to the A57 is not specifically provided for in the consultants' brief. This will be a matter for consideration when the consultants report.
§ Mr. LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport with which organisations his Department has had consultations regarding the greater Manchester western and northern relief road, prior to and since the publication of the White Paper, "Roads for Prosperity".
§ Mr. AtkinsTwenty-six organisations have been consulted about proposals for the section of the greater Manchester western and northern relief road between the M6 and M56 motorways. These are listed as follows:
- Cheshire County Council
- Macclesfield Borough Council
- Trafford Borough Council
- Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- Ministry of Defence
- Countryside Commission
- Nature Conservancy Council
- National Trust
- Manweb
- British Geological Society
- British Gas
- British Coal
- North West Water Authority
- CEGB
- Cheshire Constabulary
- Warrington Borough Transport
- Shell UK
- British Telecom
- Norweb
- British Waterways Board
- Civil Aviation Authority
- Devaway Travel
- Cheshire Bus
- Starling Travel
- Crosville Motor Services Ltd.
- Smith Shearing Ltd.