§ Mr. Alex CarlileTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the future of the public lavatory alongside the A458 road at Ford in Shropshire; and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of public lavatory provisions on the A458 road at Ford in Shropshire. [32206]
§ Mr. NorrisI have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 17 June 1996:
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the future of the public lavatory alongside the A458 road at Ford in Shropshire, and what assessment he has made of the adequacy of public lavatory provisions on the A458 at Ford in Shropshire.The funding available for trunk road routine maintenance this year has been reduced. In these circumstances the Highways Agency has examined all activities encompassed in this type of work and taken the view that it must give priority to those directly related to safety. As a result many non safety related activities including the cleaning of trunk road toilets have been reduced in frequency or stopped. This has led to closure of some trunk road toilets. Facilities where 338W local authorities, local franchises or businesses have entered into agreements with the Agency to take over responsibility and associated costs for the day to day running are not affected.With regard to the toilets on the A458 at Ford in Shropshire, the Highways Agency are seeking to avert closure by concluding an agreement with the owners of the "Dinkies Dinah" cafe for its day to day running. If an agreement is not concluded in the near future then the toilets are likely to be closed.I am aware of the benefit of these facilities, but in the face of shortages, activities concerned primarily with safety must have first call on available funds.