§ 15. Mr. Joynson-Hicksasked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet given public notice of his intention to close certain roads connecting Aldingbourne, Oving and Tangmere in West Sussex; and how far he has authorised work on the new road and on improving certain existing highways there.
§ Mr. BarnesMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air recently told me of a probable change of plan in connection with Tangmere airfield that would interfere with a section of the new road previously proposed which I had in fact authorised. I have, therefore, postponed publication of the draft order for the closure of the roads referred to by the hon. Member until I can settle, as I hope to do very soon, the line of a new alternative road.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that that was virtually what he said last May, that these people are still unable to have direct access between the villages owing to the closing of the roads across the aerodrome, and that it is becoming unbearable for them? He must do something about it quickly.
§ Mr. BarnesThat is not quite a correct interpretation of the position. The hon. Member knows that since then the Secretary of State for Air has had to alter his plans for strategic reasons and that I have to take that into consideration.
§ Mr. Joynson-HicksBut will the right hon. Gentleman take other things into consideration as well, such as the necessity for giving the people in this area some means of direct communication, one way or another, between the villages?
§ Mr. BarnesYes, Sir. I am particularly interested in that and that is why I am pressing for a settlement of these problems.