§ Mr. MarlandTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the increase in the number of heavy goods vehicles using the(a) A48, (b) A40, (c) B4136 and (d) B4215/4221 heading towards the Severn bridge since one-way tolls on the Severn bridge have been imposed.
§ Mr. WattsIn April and May this year, Gloucestershire county council carried out a traffic survey for the Highways Agency which indicated that 575 more heavy goods vehicles than would be expected, allowing for traffic growth, were travelling westbound on roads through Gloucestershire per 24-hour day. The increases by individual roads were:(a) A48, 200 HGVs; (b) A40/A4136, 200 HGVs; and, (c) B4215/134221, 175 HGVs. The eastbound HGV flows on these roads were slightly less than would have been expected.
655WNot all the extra vehicles could be positively identified as avoiding the Severn bridge because of the one-way tolls.