A556M (Hansard, 15 October 2002)

§ Mr. Jamieson

I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Tim Matthews, to write to the hon. Member.

Letter to Mr. George Osborne from Hillary Chipping, dated 15 October 2002: The Transport Minister, David Jamieson has asked me to reply to your recent questions about plans for the A556 (M) and Junction 20 of the M6. I am replying in the absence of Tim Matthews, the Chief Executive who is currently away on Highways Agency business. As you may be aware, the White Paper "A New Deal for Trunk Roads" published in July 1998, identified a need for the West Midlands to North West Conurbations Multi Modal Study (MIDMAN). As part of a combined package of transport solutions, the study has identified a number of highway improvements including widening the M6 Motorway to 4 lanes up to Junction 20 and re-modelling Junction 20 to make it multidirectional. A steering group made up of regional stakeholders, including the Highways Agency and the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA), has considered these improvements. The Agency voiced their concern that the proposed Junction 20 improvements had not been adequately assessed against an alternative proposal to upgrade the A556 to motorway standard. which was considered as part of the A556/MIDMAN Study. The steering group therefore asked the Agency to carry out further technical work and report back to the NWRA. Subsequently, the Agency commissioned consultants to produce the A556 Area 719W Study, which concluded that the A556 (M) scheme should be taken forward in place of widening the M6 from Junction 19 to 20 and the Junction 20 improvements. The Agency has now informed the NWRA of their conclusions. I understand that the NWRA considered the MIDMAN recommendations on 4 October and is in the process of making their views known to the Secretary of State. These and other issues will be considered by the Secretary of State and a formal announcement on the whole package of transport measures will be made in due course. If you would like any further information about these issues, please contact the Highways Agency's Regional Manager for Network Strategy in the North West, Malcolm Roberts, at Sunley Tower, Piccadilly Plaza, Manchester, M14BE—Tel: 01619305668