Review casts doubt on future of pounds 1.5bn road schemes

The future of road schemes worth pounds 1.5bn was thrown into doubt yesterday as the Government announced a major review of its road building strategy.

Described as a "far-reaching and broadly based strategic roads review," the exercise will seek to incorporate Labour's desire for an integrated transport policy and should report its findings to coincide with the transport White Paper next spring.

Ministers will start an "accelerated review" on 12 important schemes including the controversial Salisbury bypass in Wiltshire and the 27-mile Birmingham Relief Road - both of which cross sites of special scientific interest.

Gavin Strang, the transport minister, told MPs in a Commons reply that the aim was to find out which roads should become part of the Government's integrated transport policy, taking account of the environmental impact and other forms of transport which may become available.

Dr Strang's announcement is in line with the Government's desire to make motorists switch to buses, trains, bicycles and other forms of transport.

Only two weeks ago, John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, pointed the way by arriving at a environmental conference in London on the Tube instead of his ministerial Daimler.

The minister, however, told journalists there was a limit to the amount of taxpayers' money that could be found for new roads. He said ministers were looking at the possibility of a "dedicated income stream" for public transport.

"We only have a certain amount of money from the public. There is a major strategic decision to be made and we are considering road pricing and taxing car parking spaces," said Dr Strang.

Transport experts had speculated before the election that the pounds 6bn roads programme could be raided to fund innovative public transport schemes.

But the timing of this review will mean no extra money will be available this year from the road building budget.

The fate of the dozen "accelerated review" schemes could be decided within a month, but Mr Strang warned that some complex projects may need more time to reach a conclusion.

The 12 roads to be reviewed are: the Birmingham Northern Relief Road; M25 Junctions 12 to 15; the M66 Denton-Middleton stretch; widening the A2/M2 junction 4; the Salisbury bypass-Wessex link; A564 Derby southern bypass; the M62E/M606 link roads, and in addition, five private road schemes.

Environmentalists were "disappointed" by the Government's announcement. "There was nothing concrete on a number of important projects. We trust speedy decisions will be made," said Roger Higman, transport campaigner for Friends of the Earth.

Motoring organisations ,however, welcomed the report. Edmund King, a spokesman for the RAC, said: "We are glad the Government is considering safety, environment and accessibility and expect to see environmentally-friendly improvements to the nation's roads."