HC Deb 09 May 1991 vol 190 c546W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the proposed Mll link road, as planned, could safely be used by (i) pedestrians and (ii) cyclists.

Mr. Chope

The A12, Hackney Wick-M11 link road will be an all-purpose urban trunk road and will be heavily trafficked. The link road will remove motor traffic from existing roads and these will become safer alternative routes for pedestrians and cyclists when linked by the footpaths and cycletracks which are part of the scheme.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if construction drawings in connection with the M11 link road for the Lea interchange have yet been made.

Mr. Chope

I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 23 April, at columns415–16.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what evidence was given on 8 January 1990, before the compulsory purchase order public inquiry in connection with the M 11 link road, by the Department of Transport's representative on proposed restrictions on cycling on the road;

(2) if he will review the implications of paragraph 80 of the decision letter dated 2 August 1988 concerning the M11 link road, in respect of safety considerations and the use by cyclists of the M 11 link road in the light of his representation to the EC Commission that the road will be available for use by all classes of traffic.

Mr. Chope

The evidence referred to previous proposals to restrict the use of the link road by cyclists and to provide alternatives which would be more attractive. It acknowledged that a prohibition might be necessary ultimately, but pointed out that this would not be inconsistent with the classification of the link road as an all-purpose trunk road. This is in accordance with both the intentions of paragraph 80 of the decision letter of 2 August 1988 and the Department's response to the EC of November last year.

Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what undertakings Her Majesty's Government has given in connection with the M11 link road to the Commission of the European Communities on availability for use by all classes of traffic.

Mr. Chope

The Department has informed the European Commission that, on opening, the link road will be available to all classes of traffic.