26. Mr. VYVYAN ADAMSasked the Minister of Transport the estimated cost 811 of the proposed new by-pass road and bridge over the River Ouse at Selby which it was intended to construct in order to enable traffic to avoid the present toll bridge; and how this cost compares with the estimated amount which would be necessary to free the existing pay bridge, assuming that the tolls on the present structure were taken by the purchasing local authorities for a period of four years, as in the case of Gainsborough bridge?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Pybus)The scheme which has been under consideration by the county councils is estimated to cost about £650,000. This estimate includes a sum of £100,000 for the cost of erection of a new bridge in substitution of the existing toll bridge. No details are available which would enable an estimate to be obtained of the cost of acquiring the existing toll rights.
Mr. ADAMSWould not the cost of freeing the existing toll bridge be a mere fraction of the £650,000 which my hon. Friend has mentioned?
§ Mr. PYBUSThe only way of dealing with this particular toll bridge is by means of another bridge crossing the River Ouse. That point, I think, has already been under the consideration of the local authorities concerned.