HC Deb 19 May 1919 vol 116 cc17-8
29. Major PRESCOTT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, as representing the Office of Woods and Forests, whether he is aware that experience has demonstrated that water-bound macadam, if rendered impervious by being surface treated with tar or a similar weather-excluding material, reduces the cost of maintenance by some 50 per cent; and whether he will consider the desirability of abandoning the present costly methods of maintenance for the heavily trafficked outer circle and inner circle carriageways and footpaths of Regent's Park?

The FIRST COMMISSIONER of WORKS (Sir Alfred Mond)

I am well aware that the tar-spraying of macadam roads reduces the cost of maintenance by about 50 per cent. This method of treatment has already been adopted for nearly two years in the inner circle and parts of the outer circle controlled by my Department. The outer circle roads, together with the footpaths from Hanover Gate, running south and east to Gloucester Gate are under the charge of the Crown Estate Paving Commissioners, who, I am informed, are substituting tarmac for water-bound macadam as rapidly as possible. It has not been possible hitherto to treat many paths with tar owing to the restrictions placed on its use during war, but I hope to be able to treat the paths under my control during the course of the summer.