HC Deb 10 January 1995 vol 252 cc81-2W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) who in his Department receives regular reports on significant interruptions to the north-bound traffic intending to use the Blackwall tunnel;

(2) if he will estimate the cost-benefit ratio of staffing a special unit to react to indications from detection equipment by diverting over-height vehicles away from the north-bound Blackwall tunnel before traffic is blocked;

(3) how often drivers or operators of oversized vehicles are charged with an offence if they block the flow of traffic north-bound through the Blackwall tunnel;

(4) what is his Department's responsibility for (a) the north-bound Blackwall tunnel and (b) its approach road;

(5) how long it takes on average to unblock traffic at the north-bound Blackwall tunnel after an over-height vehicle blockage.

Mr. Norris

These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Bottomley dated 10 January 1995: I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Transport to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the Blackwall Tunnel, as you have raised a number of operational matters that are now the responsibility of the Highways Agency. The Highways Agency acts in these matters on behalf of the Secretary of State who remains the Highway Authority for both the Blackwall Tunnel and its approach roads. The delays at the northbound Blackwall Tunnel are often, but not always, caused by overheight vehicles stopped in the tunnel approach slope by automatically triggered traffic signals. Each incident is dealt with by police officers under the direction of the East London Traffic Control Centre (ELTCC) and takes about fifteen minutes to clear. It is usually possible for ELTCC to get one lane of traffic moving within a few minutes using a CCTV and loudspeaker system. The offending vehicle must not be reversed until traffic police arrive at the scene. A dedicated unit situated at the approach to the tunnel would have to be staffed by police as only they have the powers to stop and direct traffic. The police, however, share my view that such an arrangement would have few benefits over the present system. A large number of tall vehicles legitimately use Tunnel Avenue as the only access from the south to the northern tip of the Greenwich Peninsular. These drivers are therefore perfectly entitled to use the A102 to the Blackwall Tunnel before turning off adjacent to the tunnel approach slope, and it would be impossible for an officer to separate out those heading for the peninsular from the real offenders until the point that they are stopped now. The ELTCC prepare a daily report on incidents for the Highways Agency's office in Docklands where staff are able to monitor incidents on a CCTV link. There are usually between 50 and 60 incidents a month. About 70% of these offenders are processed through the courts or issued with a fixed penalty notice. The balance, which tend to be those only slightly overheight, receive a verbal warning. The police also write to all the haulage companies concerned. These measures have reduced the number of incidents and have avoided any damage to the fabric of the tunnel itself. We are however continually looking for further ways of improving the situation, for example, we are looking into the feasibility of providing an escape ramp to avoid the need for offending vehicles to have to reverse out of the Tunnel approach. But it is too early yet to say what the outcome will be. I do hope that this answers the points you raised with the Secretary of State, but please contact me if I can be of further assistance.