§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions in relation to the link road to Scratchwood Services M1, from Ellesmere Avenue NW7(a) what vehicles are authorised to use the road, (b) who authorises use, (c) who polices unauthorised use, (d) for what purpose the link road was built, (e) whether rat running to gain access to the M1 by the link road is authorised use, (f) what consideration has been 340W given to closing the link road and (g) what consideration has been given to measures to prevent rat running; and if he will make a statement. [89716]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonI have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 16 July 1999:
The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Glenda Jackson, has asked me to reply to your recent question about the link road to the Scratchwood Services on the M1 Motorway.The link road was built to provide vehicular access to Scratchwood. Those authorised to use the road under a legal agreement between the Secretary of State and Welcome Break, who operate the services, are service area employees, delivery vans, maintenance depot employees and the emergency services. Guests at the Welcome Break Lodge are also allowed to use the access. Rat running to gain access to the M1 motorway is not an authorised use and Welcome Break are legally required to police the road by providing and maintaining a suitable barrier or gate across the link road to prevent such use. This means Welcome Break must keep the barrier shut except to admit authorised users.It would not be possible to close the link road permanently as Welcome Break are required to maintain access at all times to authorised users. The Highways Agency is working with Welcome Break to provide a more efficient means of preventing unauthorised use of the link road.