HL Deb 13 February 1967 vol 280 cc3-4
EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the general situation regarding the High Wycombe By-Pass on A40; and whether the large notices "Opening 1966" which were only recently taken down will be replaced by a further and more accurate forecast.]

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the western section of the By-Pass from Stokenchurch to Handy Cross will be open to traffic early this summer. Work on the eastern section is in progress and the whole motorway is due to be opened in the autumn of 1968.

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord. May I ask a supplementary question which is cognate but not directly arising from this? It is at the request of a noble Lord who cannot be here. What is the position to the West of Stokenchurch, going down Aston Hill?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I should have thought that that was quite another question. If the noble Earl's friend would like to have information he can either write tome or put a Question down on the Order Paper.

LORD CARRINGTON

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord, first, whether he is aware that his Answer will be very gratefully received, because the line of this by-pass was first surveyed in 1921 and it is nice to know that it is going to be opened next year? May I ask him, more seriously, whether the Government have considered what will happen to traffic when it leaves the newly opened extension on the west side and has to go down the hill into High Wycombe, and whether it will not be worse than not having that section opened at all?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, I take the noble Lord's point. I understand that a one-way system is to be introduced on some of the new link roads, and that will greatly reduce conflicting traffic movements. I agree that there are going to be difficulties there, and no doubt the police and the other responsible people will be doing what they can to reduce hardship.