§ Lord Stoddartasked Her Majesty's Government:
In connection with the installation of a bus, coach and taxi lane on the eastbound carriageway of the M.4 between junctions 3 and 2 and associated works:
- (a) whether users of the motorway were informed of the project and by what means;
- (b) what opportunities were given to them to object, if any, and how many objections were received;
- (c) which motoring organisations, if any, were consulted and what were their responses;
- (d) which organisations, if any, representing road hauliers were consulted and what were their responses; and
- (e) whether the Prime Minister has made any representations concerning the operation of the bus, coach and taxi lane and delays to other traffic. [HL3249]
§ Lord WhittyThe Minister for Transport announced on 25 September 1997 in opening the bus lane on the M.4 Heathrow spur that a bus lane on the eastbound M.4 between junctions 3 and 2 was being investigated.
Public notices about the bus lane proposals were advertised in the London Evening Standard, Brentford and Chiswick Times and London Gazette on 24 July 1998. These also gave the opportunity for objections. Nine objections were received within the four-week objection period.
The Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association were also consulted. The Freight Transport Association objected to the proposals on safety and policy grounds. These concerns were fully discussed with the association.
The Deputy Prime Minister has received no representations from the Prime Minister on the matter. There are of course regular contacts at official level. The actual outcome of the experiment so far has been favourable on traffic flows.