§ 15. Mr. Haymanasked the Secretary of State for War the length of the military road to the top of Yes Tor in the Dartmoor National Park; how many tons of stone, broken concrete and gravel were used in its construction; and the cost of the operation.
§ Mr. SoamesI would refer the hon. Member to my Answer of 27th January. The track is about 1,500 yards long. Between 40 and 50 tons of broken stone from local quarries were used in its repair, at a cost of about £50. The work was done by War Department staff.
§ Mr. HaymanIs the Minister aware that in two previous Answers given in the House recently it was said that the road was not metalled but now he admits that it is? Has he seen the photograph in the Western Morning News of 21st December, 1959, which shows a motor car 1200 at the top of the road and near to the top of the Tor which is the highest hill in the south of England and the West Country? What does the right hon. Gentleman intend to do about it?
§ Mr. SoamesI am afraid that I have not had the advantage enjoyed by the hon. Member of seeing the photograph on 21st December, 1959. I am informed that if the road had been metalled, not 50 tons but 750 tons of stone would have been necessary. What has happened to the track is that the sides have been shored up and the holes filled in to make it traversable by a Land Rover.
§ Mr. HaymanMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman to bear in mind that this is in the middle of a National Park and that the road scars the hill-side?
§ Mr. SoamesThis track has always been in existence. We have improved it so that we can get the Land Rover up it, and the object is to lower the flag at the top of the Tor as soon as possible after firing has ceased.