§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to extend motorway lighting on the M6 from its present point close to the M1 to junction 3. [7137]
§ Mr. WattsI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. James Pawsey, dated 20 December 1995:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about M6 motorway lighting between the M1/M6 Interchange and Junction 3.There are no plans to light the M6 between these junctions.As you would expect, the key test in any appraisal of lighting need is the performance, from a safety point of view, of the road during the hours of darkness. Having examined the overnight safety record for this section of motorway over the last three years, we cannot justify extending the existing lighting provision to this area. Any proposal to go forward in this way would not be an effective use of funds and would certainly be at the expense of other much-needed lighting schemes elsewhere.However, all sections of the motorway and trunk road network are the subject of periodic review and factors could emerge at some stage in the future which may be significant and be such to justify the Agency taking a fresh look at the lighting need.In the meantime, I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.