| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
10 Oct 2005 : Column 95W—continued
M60
Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in ascertaining the reasons for flooding on the M60 between Denton and Hollinwood, Oldham. [15098]
Dr. Ladyman: Investigations have indicated that the surface water problems that occur at specific areas on the predominately four-lane section of M60 between Junction 19 at Middleton and Junction 24 at Denton result from a combination of wide carriageways and the road alignment and crossfall, which cause rainwater to have a long and slow pathway off the carriageway to the drains.
The design of carriageway modifications to improve the surface water drainage between Junction 24 at Denton and the River Medlock has been completed. Remedial works on this section are expected to start during the autumn and continue in 2006. Further assessment is being carried out on the section between the Medlock River and Junction 19 at Middleton, following which any necessary remedial works will be undertaken.
Media Relations
Mr. Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much the Department has spent on external media relations in each month of the last year. [14685]
Ms Buck: The Department has press officers who handle much of its media relations with the support of the Government News Network in the regions. In addition, the Department spent the following amount in each month of 2004–05 on consultancy fees for external media relations primarily to support our marketing activities for example the THINK! road safety campaign.
10 Oct 2005 : Column 96W
Motorways
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to start trials on the M42 motorway of using the hard shoulder for regular traffic; over what period such trials are to be carried out; when he expects to reach conclusions on the wider use of hard shoulders; and if he will make a statement. [15042]
Dr. Ladyman: Introduction of controlled use of hard shoulder running as part of the Active Traffic Management (ATM) Pilot Project on the M42 will begin by March 2007 in line with the published Highways Agency Business Plan target.
Comprehensive monitoring and evaluation is being undertaken to evaluate the effects of the range of measures introduced as part of ATM and especially of hard shoulder running. Analysis of the data and reporting will take time after the operation commences and in a number of cases robust answers will only be available after a number of months or years.
Specifically, in order to measure the traffic impact of hard shoulder running a period of 12 months of operation is expected. Due to the relatively low number of accidents that occur on motorways it is anticipated that three years of 'accident data' will be needed before overall conclusions can be reached on the impact of hard shoulder running on safety. Initial conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the various measures implemented on the M42 are therefore expected in 2008.
Mr. Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many safety refuges are in place on motorways in England and Wales; how many are in the course of construction; how many more are planned; and in which locations. [15044]
Dr. Ladyman: In respect to the motorway network within England, only the M42 junction 3a to junction 7 currently has formal safety refuges in place. A total of 41 Emergency Refuge Areas were installed as part of the Active Traffic Management (ATM) pilot scheme. No further safety refuges are planned, pending the results of the pilot project.
Multi-Modal Studies
Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) each of the multi-modal studies that have been published since May 1997 and (b) such studies which are still in progress; and what plans the Government has to produce further studies. [15217]
Ms Buck: A programme of Multi-Modal Studies was announced in March 1999. The table sets out the position on each of the studies. In the case of the final study programme we agreed in 2003 to a scoping study rather than a full Multi-Modal Study for the A34 North of Southampton to review the broad scale of problems and key issues on the A34. This reported in 2004 and our response was given to the South East Regional Assembly earlier this year.
We have no plans for any further Multi-Modal Studies.
10 Oct 2005 : Column 97W
(29) We will consider the recommendations from the West Midlands to East Midlands and A52 Corridor Studies in the light of regional advice on the timing and priority of schemes to be provided under the recently announced Regional Funding Allocations process.
National Street Gazetteer
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what (a) duties and (b) powers local highway authorities possess in relation to the National Street Gazetteer; what information he collects on the extent to which each meets its responsibilities; what communications he has had with or in relation to the Isle of Wight council's performance in this regard; and what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that all unadopted roads and parts thereof on the island are recorded as such in the Gazetteer. [16545]
Ms Buck: The National Street Gazetteer is maintained by a concessionaire appointed under the auspices of the Local Government Association.
Street Authorities are required, under section 53 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, and the Street Works (Registers, Notices, Directions and Designations) Regulations 1992, to maintain a register showing information about works on the streets within their areas.
This duty ensures that street authorities must keep local street Gazetteers, so that works are identified on the relevant street. The concessionaire relies on the local Gazetteers in compiling the National Street Gazetteer. Central Government has no role in assuring the content of either the national or local street Gazetteers.
Department for Transport officials have been in communication with the Isle of Wight council about the quality of their local street Gazetteer following representations from a resident on the island.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |