§ 61. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the present dangerous condition of the London-to-Maidstone arterial road and the Barnet bypass road; and whether it is proposed to take steps to restore the surface of these roads to a more satisfactory condition?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am informed that surface-dressing operations which were carried out by contract on portions of the London-Maidstone road have given rise to trouble, and that the Kent County Council are taking the necessary steps to remedy it. I am not aware of any dangerous conditions prevailing on the Barnet by-pass road, which is under the control of the Middlesex and Hertfordshire County Councils.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEHas the right hon. and gallant Gentleman himself ever driven over these two roads, or either of them, and has he any practical, personal experience of their condition?
§ Colonel ASHLEYCertainly; I drove over the Barnet by-pass only last week, 1203 and I thought it was very satisfactory. As to the other road, I have not been there, but it is not satisfactory, and steps are being taken by the Kent County Council to remedy it.
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIf my right hon. and gallant Friend has driven over that road; can he say whether he has a motor-car that is absolutely impervious to the conditions, whatever they may be?
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYWhy is it always necessary to put these surface dressings on afterwards? Why cannot they be put on to the original roads when they are made?
§ Colonel ASHLEYVery often, the surface dressing is put on temporarily while the road is settling.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYBut is my right hon. and gallant Friend not aware that the roads are often so slippery that they have to have these surface dressings put on, and why cannot they originally be built so that they do not need these surface dressings put on afterwards?
§ Colonel ASHLEYBecause nothing is perfect in this world.