§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports he has had on diversion of traffic from the Severn bridge to rural routes in Gloucestershire.
§ Mr. WattsIn July last year, a study carried out on behalf of the Highways Agency by Gloucestershire county council showed that while, on average, some 2,700 more vehicles than might be expected—allowing for traffic growth—travelled west through the county each day, only 1,500 of these could be positively identified as avoiding the bridge tolls. The extra traffic was distributed fairly evenly over the M50 and three other diversion routes, the A48 (T), A40(T)/A4136 and B4215.