§ 30. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Transport whether, with regard to his offer of financial assistance, any reply has been received from the Wimbledon local authority and the conservators of Wimbledon Common as to the repairs to be made to the roads across the common which are now closed, as being dangerous from want of repair?
§ Colonel ASHLEYTo the best of my knowledge the conservators and the local authorities have not yet succeeded in agreeing upon a feasible scheme to ensure the proper repair and future upkeep of these roads. Until a satisfactory proposal to this end has been formulated, I am not in a position to offer financial assistance.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs my right hon. Friend aware that this road across Wimbledon Common, which was labelled as "Dangerous" for some time, has now been finally closed, and that it is a road which people in bad health are in the habit of using in order to take the fresh air of the common, and will he kindly communicate with the authorities to see if they cannot compose their differences in the public interest?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have already communicated several times with these public authorities, and, unfortunately, no agreement has been reached. The hon. Member will realise that there is some compensation for those who want to take the air on the common in the fact that they can go there without being hindered by motor traffic.
Viscountess ASTORMay I suggest that delicate people should go to Plymouth, where there are good roads and good air?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAt any rate, there is one hon. Member who bears testimony to the excellent work of the Ministry of Transport in Plymouth.