§ 40. Mr. Dyeasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what representations he has received for a road improvement scheme at Weasenham, Norfolk, where many accidents have taken place; and when he will give his permission to by-pass this dangerous corner.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThis is a classified road, and my predecessor authorised a grant to the Norfolk County Council, which is the highway authority, in 1953. The council, however, had difficulties in acquiring the necessary land, and has now put forward a much more expensive alternative scheme. Modifications of this are now under discussion.
§ Mr. DyeIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the modified scheme is a very much shorter one than the original one? Will he give attention to the number of fatalities which occur at that corner?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am giving attention to it, and my view, or that of my predecessor, is indicated by the fact that he was prepared to accept this for grant as long ago as 1953. We are now dealing with a totally different scheme, which must be thrashed out by representatives of the local authority and my engineers.
§ Mr. StokesIs this not another case which shows how essential it is to deal with the land question?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think it is essential, in dealing with the land question, in road construction as in other matters, to play fair by the interests of the people whose land one is taking.
§ Mr. StokesSheer robbery.