§ Mr. COURTHOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether communications have been received by the War Office on the state and need of repair of the military road running from Rye to Winchelsea; whether tolls have been, and are still, levied from the traffic using this road for the purpose of its upkeep and repair; whether the county council of East Sussex have expressed their willingness to take over and maintain this road, provided that it is first placed in a state of repair; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the tolls the War Department is statutorily liable to expend on the maintenance of the road any revenue derived therefrom, which last year amounted to £210, as against the sum of £222 which was actually expended on the maintenance. Prolonged negotiations have been proceeding with the county councils of Kent and East Sussex, with a view to their taking over the road and properties appertaining thereto, but their demand for a capital expenditure on the part of the War Department of over £16,000 as a preliminary measure has checked the progress of these negotiations. There are no funds, apart from the properties attached to the road, available for such an expenditure, and I am not prepared to ask the House to provide them at the expense of the taxpayer. I may add that the road has no longer any military use.
§ Mr. COURTHOPEWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of making an application to the Roads Board in reference to this road, jointly with the council or alone?
§ Mr. HALDANEI have no objection to considering it.