§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will make a statement about the damage done to the gas main outside Wanstead station by workers on the 551W M11 link road and the consequences to the health of the local population of the resulting gas vapours;
(2) what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed M11 link road on rights in respect of the free movement of cattle in the Whipps Cross area; what proposals he has to restrict those rights; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NorrisThese questions are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 25 October 1994:
The Minister for Transport in London has asked me to write to you in response to your Parliamentary Questions about the Al2 Hackney Wick to M1 I Link Road since they are operational matters for the Highways Agency.We are not intending to restrict the rights in respect of cattle in the Whipps Cross area, indeed, links across Epping Forest will be improved as a result of the Link Road. The layout of the existing Green Man Roundabout is being revised to accommodate slip roads to and from the Link Road which will pass under the junction in tunnel. As well as providing a special bridge over the Underground railway for pedestrians, equestrians, cyclists and cattle, a separate tunnel under the roundabout will allow safe passage, segregated from traffic, between the northern section of Epping Forest and Bush Wood and beyond to Wanstead Flats. This is a significant improvement on the existing situation where busy roads must be crossed. These proposals were fully discussed at the 1987 Public Inquiry into the Link Road.In order to prevent cattle from straying on to the Link Road once it is opened, we are proposing to install cattle grids on the slip roads at the new Green Man Roundabout, having consulted the local authorities and the Conservators of Epping Forest.The incident involving the gas pipe fracture at Mansfield Road was an unfortunate accident. The sub-contractor constructing a new sewer, was lowering a steel frame into a trench and hit a gas pipe at or close to a joint causing it to fracture. As a precautionary measure, British Gas sealed off the area, including Wanstead Station, while they repaired the pipe. It is our belief that there was little danger to the public as a result of the fracture, but we regret the inconvenience that was caused.