Westminster Hall is an alternative Chamber for MPs to hold debates, named after the adjoining Westminster Hall.
Each debate is chaired by an MP from the Panel of Chairs, rather than the Speaker or Deputy Speaker. A Government Minister will give the final speech, and no votes may be called on the debate topic.
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Simon Lightwood)
It is always a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Ms McVey. I commend the commitment of my hon. Friend the Member for Lichfield (Dave Robertson) to seeing this crucial bridge in his constituency replaced.
The Government are committed to improving the condition of local roads. I recognise that restrictions and closures are sometimes unavoidable for safety reasons, but their costs are considerable. Diversions cost businesses money, take up drivers’ time and can increase congestion on other roads, and I also recognise what my hon. Friend said regarding emergency services.
I want to ensure that all highway authorities have what they need to manage their assets as effectively and efficiently as possible to avoid those impacts. We are therefore supporting highway authorities with record investment of £7.3 billion for local highways maintenance over the next four years. That clearly demonstrates our commitment to tackling the poor state of our local roads, which is the result of historical under-investment.
We are also ensuring that every single pound of our record investment goes further. The long-term certainty of our four-year settlement allows authorities to plan ahead and shift from reactive fixes to proactive, preventive maintenance, which reduces unplanned disruptions and means that funding can be spent more efficiently.
Alongside our record uplift in highways maintenance, the Government have launched the structures fund. Too much of the country’s vital transport infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate, creating risks for communities, businesses and the wider economy. Across the country, around 3,000 bridges are currently unable to carry the heaviest vehicles, restricting freight and agricultural traffic. The Government believe that repairing or replacing those assets is essential if our transport network is to remain safe, reliable and resilient for the future.
The structures fund will provide capital funding for repair or replacement of major local highway structures that local highway authorities cannot afford to restore from their own budgets. Eligible assets include bridges, flyovers and retaining walls. The Government want those investments not only to repair ageing infrastructure, but to ensure structures are fit for modern transport demands and more resilient to extreme weather events.
As climate risks increase, strengthening critical assets now will help to avoid future disruption and long-term costs. Local highway authorities had until 3 August to put structures forward for investment, and we expect to announce funding awards in the autumn. I was pleased that Staffordshire county council put Chetwynd bridge forward for the fund, and so effectively conveyed the strength of local support for its plans to replace the structure.
It is a testament to the country’s excellence in engineering that a pre-1830s cast-iron bridge still forms part of our road network. I recognise the challenges that modern traffic poses to such old assets, and I appreciate the stewardship that Staffordshire county council has demonstrated over the last few years in managing it. I also appreciate the crossing’s importance to local communities, businesses and key stakeholders, such as the National Memorial Arboretum.
I recognise the traffic management and compliance challenges posed by the current 7.5-tonne weight and 2.3-metre width restrictions, but road users will no doubt appreciate that it remains open to some traffic. I commend again my hon. Friend’s commitment to seeing this crucial bridge in his constituency replaced. He remarked earlier that Chetwynd bridge is not famous—but trust me, Ms McVey, after endless campaigning, it definitely feels famous to me.
My hon. Friend’s constituents should be in no doubt how hard he fights for his community. Although he did not invite me to Bloodstock, I would be delighted to accompany you, Ms McVey. I recognise that the current restrictions are causing his constituents disruption, and we will of course update them as soon as possible when we announce the successful structures fund schemes.
Question put and agreed to.