§ Mr. Roger KingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what temporary service facilities will now be introduced on the M40 following the rejection of planning permission for motorway service areas.
§ Mr. ChopePlanning permission has been refused for the motorway service area—MSA—proposed at Tetsworth to serve the southern section of the M40. Two other MSAs are proposed, one at Barn Hill, between junctions 12 and 13, on which a planning decision is awaited; and one at Ardley, at junction 10, for which planning clearance has been obtained. It is hoped to have the Ardley MSA developed and open early in 1993.
In the meantime, signs to the MSAs at Frankley and Hilton Park on the M6 and at Tamworth on the M42 are being modified to indicate that there are no services on the M40. Signs to similar effect are being erected on major approach roads to the M40 such as A34 and A46.
Temporary signs will be erected on the M40 within the next few weeks to indicate the availability of 24-hour fuel facilities off junctions 10 and 15 for emergency use. The general "No services" signing will remain on the motorway.
Agreement in principle has been reached with Warwickshire and Oxfordshire county councils for emergency lavatory facilities to be provided on A542 between junctions 13 and 14 and off junction 10. When these facilities are in place, they, too, will be signed from the motorway.