Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38013, what steps she plans to take ensure Highways England and its contractors meet the legal requirements in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 for the removal of litter, debris and detritus from the highway, reservations, slip roads, embankments and verges (a) nationwide and (b) on the M60 and M67 in Gorton and Denton constituency.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Environment Protection Act 1990 governs the responsibility for clearing highway litter and sweeping carriageways. National Highways is responsible for litter collection on motorways and some ‘A’ roads while the relevant Local Authority manages litter collection on the rest of the roads in England.
National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67. National Highways’ most recent inspection of the M67 and M60 in Denton took place on 20 March 2025. The performance of contractors and their completion of maintenance activities are reviewed and monitored monthly by National Highways.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38013, what Quality Assurance she has that the removal of litter and detritus is done within the timeframes set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and whether it is done to standards deemed appropriate within the Act.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways’ Performance Specification includes a Performance Indicator for litter. This metric monitors the cleanliness of the Strategic Road Network and is the percentage of the Strategic Road Network where litter is graded at A or B as defined in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Code of practice on Litter and Refuse. National Highways performance indicator score for 2023-24 is 59.2% of the Network is graded at A or B.
National Highways is monitored against its Performance Specification by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). The ORR report annually to Parliament and the public on National Highways’ performance, including litter. If the ORR deem that National Highways is not complying with its statutory directions or complying with the requirements of the Road Investment Strategy, they may determine enforcement action to be appropriate.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38013, what the last date of monitoring litter on the M67 and M60 in Denton was; and what grades each section were marked.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67. Although litter is not the primary purpose, it is taken into consideration as part of these inspections, and any concerns are recorded.
National Highways’ most recent inspection of the M67 and M60 in Denton took place on 20 March 2025.
The inspection identified the condition of the litter at various locations along these routes as Grade C, as defined in the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse (Code of practice on litter and refuse). National Highways is currently making arrangements for this litter to be removed.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 38013, what Quality Assurance she has that the monitoring undertaken is to the correct standard.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways undertakes inspections of the Strategic Road Network in line with the DMRB GS801 Asset Delivery Asset Inspections Requirements standard and the inspectors survey and grade the Strategic Road Network in accordance with The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Code of Practice for Litter and Refuse.
The Office for Road and Rail (ORR), as Highways Monitor, also plays an important role in monitoring National Highways’ litter clearance on behalf of the Secretary of State and holding National Highways to account for its licence commitments. The ORR report annually to Parliament and the public on National Highways’ performance, including litter. If the ORR deem that National Highways is not complying with its statutory directions or complying with the requirements of the Road Investment Strategy, they may determine enforcement action to be appropriate.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the capacity constraints on the railway lines between Stockport and Slade Lane in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail has advised Manchester Task Force of the capacity constraints between Piccadilly and Stockport including Slade Lane and Heaton Norris Junctions. I expect to receive further advice on next steps shortly.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an assessment of the capacity constraints on Heaton Norris junction in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Network Rail has advised Manchester Task Force of the capacity constraints between Piccadilly and Stockport including Slade Lane and Heaton Norris Junctions. I expect to receive further advice on next steps shortly.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the letter from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for Gorton and Denton of 13 November 2024, what recent estimate she has made of when the memorandum of understanding between her Department and Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council will be signed in respect of the levelling-up funding for Denton.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is working closely with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to allow progress all parts of the Destination Denton scheme that can be delivered and funding drawn down by March 2026. Funding after 2025/26 is subject to the outcome of the Spending Review, due to conclude in Spring.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the (a) monitoring and (b) removal of litter and detritus from the junctions, embankments, central reservations, verges and hard shoulders along (i) the M60 and (ii) the M67 in Greater Manchester.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways undertakes weekly safety inspections on the M60 and M67, litter is identified and reported on in accordance with the Defra Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse.
National Highways programme of cyclic maintenance involves litter collections on the M60 and the M67 annually. In addition to those routine litter picks, National Highways will arrange for reactive litter picking where any section of the Strategic Road Network has been identified as reaching Grade C or D according to the Code. In these cases, litter picking is carried out within 28 and 7 days respectively, depending on the grading recorded and any road space or traffic management constraints.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what re-appraisal of costs he has made for the successful Levelling-Up Fund bid entitled Destination Denton which was provisionally awarded in November 2023.
Answered by Guy Opperman
I am pleased to confirm that, following a validation process of the Destination Denton scheme, the Department is supporting Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council to progress the scheme to delivery.
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Independent - Gorton and Denton)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has had with discussions with (a) Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council and (b) Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council on prohibition of pavement parking.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department has consulted on options to help local authorities outside London tackle pavement parking, including a default ban. Views were expressed on a wide range of related issues, including public transport. The Department will publish a formal response when final decisions have been taken. The Department has not had recent discussions with Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council or Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, but the consultation was open to all local authorities.