§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when was the last time the central reservation and verges of the M1 in Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire were cleaned; and what is the programme for cleaning and collecting rubbish from motorways. [30682]
§ Mr. WattsThe central reservation and verges of the M1 in Northamptonshire were last cleaned at the junctions and service areas, these being the areas suffering most from litter, in the first week of April 1996. In Hertfordshire, the grassed sections of the central reservation were last cleaned during the winter programme which started in November 1995 and finished in March 1996; the hardened central reservation between junctions 8 and 10 was last cleaned in March; and the verges were cleaned approximately two months ago.
Cleaning and collecting rubbish on motorways is undertaken as part of the Highways Agency's routine maintenance programme which, in respect of grassed central reservations, includes gully and drain clearing, grass cutting, safety inspection, litter picking and other detailed inspections. In respect of hardened central 426W reservation, it involves sweeping, cleaning, channel and gully clearing and detailed inspections. For verges, it involves sweeping the hard shoulder and litter picking.
The level of funding available for routine maintenance this year has been reduced and all activities have been carefully reviewed to maintain downward pressure on costs. Activities such as cleaning and collecting rubbish are being limited to the minimum necessary for safety.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to widen the M1 from junction 1 to the Luton-Dunstable exit. [30681]
§ 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 4 June 1996:
The Minister for Railways and Roads has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question about plans to widen the M1 from Junction 1 to the Luton/Dunstable exit.Proposals to widen the motorway between Junctions 6A and 10 were the subject of a public inquiry towards the end of last year. The Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Transport are currently considering their decision and will make an announcement in due course.The junction serving Luton and Dunstable forms part of the widening scheme between Junctions 10 and 15. This scheme was identified in the recent programme review as having potential for smaller scale improvement. We are currently reviewing the scheme, for which statutory proposals were published in November 1994, with a view to meeting the overall objective of the scheme at a reduced cost. In the meantime the published proposals remain on the table but the proposed public inquiry has been suspended. We expect an announcement later this financial year on the outcome of the scheme review and the way forward.There are no plans to widen the M1 from Junction 1 to where it joins the M25 (Junction 6A).