Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with plans for a proposed new link road to connect the M62 westbound to the M606; whether capital funding has been allocated for that link road; and whether a timetable for construction has been determined.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The M62/M606 Chain Bar scheme was included in the first Road Investment Strategy (2015-2020). Subsequently, work on the scheme was paused in October 2017 because it demonstrated low value for money, and therefore no capital funding has been allocated for the remainder of the first Roads Investment Strategy.
The Department is currently making decisions on the content of the second Road Investment Strategy which will include an affordable, deliverable investment plan for 2020 to 2025. We expect to announce final decisions on this strategy in the coming months, on which schemes will be included and their delivery timetables.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether section 26 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) permits school crossing patrols to be appointed and operated by schools or bodies other than the local authority.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The provision of the school crossing patrol service is a matter for the local authority. Legislation gives ‘Appropriate Authorities’ the power to make arrangements (for example with schools and other bodies) for the patrolling of places where children cross roads on their way to or from school, but does not impose a duty on them to do so. The legislation defines Appropriate Authorities outside Greater London as the council of the county, unitary authority or metropolitan district; there are slightly different arrangements in London and in Scotland.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have carried out any research into the effect of excessive traffic speed in 30mph areas on the quality of life of residents in those areas.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
The Government has not carried out any specific research into the effect of excessive speed in 30mph areas on the quality of life of residents. Local authorities have the power to set local speed limits, and implement physical road changes to suit local conditions. The Department for Transport has provided advice to highway authorities in the Speed Limit Circular 01/2013 – Setting Local Speed Limits.
However, the Department has commissioned research into the effectiveness of 20mph limits. The study will cover many aspects including effects on speed, collisions, casualties and modal shift. The research will also consider best practice, road users’ perceptions and effects on the quality of the environment. This is a three year study reporting in 2017.
Asked by: Baroness Pinnock (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to give the responsibility for traffic speed enforcement on roads with a 30mph limit to local authorities.
Answered by Baroness Kramer - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Treasury and Economy)
Her Majesty’s Government does not plan to give responsibility for traffic speed enforcement to the local authorities. These decisions on where to apply speed limits are taken by local authorities in conjunction with the police force for the area in question, whose role it is to properly enforce these.