Some new road schemes scrapped

Former Transport Secretary Steven Norris and Tony Juniper of Friends of the Earth debate Britain's roads policy

Government Announces Fate of Roads Projects

A decision on widening the M25 at its busiest point west of London was deferred for further studies. The plan involves spending around £100 million on widening the orbital route.

The need for the Salisbury by-pass in Wiltshire was not so overwhelming as to outweigh the environmental impact, the Transport Minister, Gavin Strang said.

But the benefits of the Birmingham scheme - a private toll road to relieve pressure on a busy section of the M6 - outweighed the environmental disadvantages, Dr Strang added.

Of the 12 schemes under review, Birmingham and four others have been given the go-ahead, while a private-sector design, build, finance and operate (DBFO) scheme at the A40 in west London has been scrapped.

Gavin Strang: "tough decisions"

The Transport Minister justifies Government policy on BBC Radio's PM  programme

Dr Strang told a news conference in London on Monday that he had taken some "tough decisions". Of the Birmingham road, he said: "This new road is required in this vital strategic corridor and the inspector who conducted the public inquiry took the same view."

He added: "The damage to the countryside incurred by the Salisbury by-pass would not have been an acceptable price to pay."

On the M25, he said that further work was needed and that "we have not been able to complete that work in time to enable us to announce a decision today". Besides the Birmingham Northern Relief Road, the schemes given the green light are:

• The A13 Thames Gateway DBFO - this includes the upgrade and operation of the A13 trunk corridor in east London.
• The M66 Denton-Middleton scheme on the outskirts of Manchester which would complete the city's orbital motorway
• The A564 Derby Southern By-pass - the final section of a road in Leicestershire which relieves congestion on the A50.
• A2/M2 Cobham widening - part of the channel tunnel rail link package in north Kent which will deal with big traffic increases expected when the link station at Ebbsfleet opens.

Related Sites
External sites are not endorsed by the BBC

Department of Transport homepage