§ 17 and 18. Mr. Spenceasked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will refuse permission, on grounds of loss of amenity, for the building of a new road between Lossiemouth and Hopeman, passing to the north of Lossiemouth Aerodrome and, in part, going through the Moray Golf Course; and the estimated cost of building this road;
(2) what organisations or individuals have lodged objections to the official proposal to build a new road between Lossiemouth and Hopeman, passing to the north of Lossiemouth Aerodrome and, in part, going through the Moray Golf Course; whether a public inquiry is to be held; and on what date.
Mr. BraithwaiteObjections to the construction of this road have been lodged by the Lossiemouth and Branderburgh Town Council, the Moray Golf Club, the Scottish Tourist Board, the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, and 19 farmers and tenants of agricultural land in the Parishes of Drainie and Duffus.
A public inquiry is to be held at Lossiemouth on 2nd February to consider these objections. I cannot anticipate the decision my right hon. Friend may reach after considering the inspector's report. The estimated cost of building the road is about £45,000.
§ Mr. SpenceWould my right hon. Friend agree that to drive a road through and break up parts of this golf course would only be justified on grounds of supreme importance, such as national security? Could he give an assurance that at the inquiry to be held at Lossiemouth representatives of his Department and of other Ministries will be present, charged with the duty of answering questions and giving evidence, so that the inquiry may be as useful as possible?
Mr. BraithwaiteThe reply to the second part of the supplementary question is, of course, in the affirmative. As regards the first part, I cannot obviously, discuss the merits or demerits of the scheme pending the inquiry.
§ Mr. WoodburnCan the hon. Gentleman say how this priority was decided? From my knowledge of Scotland, I can think of a large number of places where, both from the point of view of safety and economic necessity, there is a much greater need for a road than on this particular stretch of the Moray coast. Can he say what were the grounds of priority for this scheme, when there is so great a scarcity of roads elsewhere?
Mr. BraithwaiteAll this was most carefully examined. Priorities are a matter of great complexity, and it has been my invariable experience that any road which we choose for improvement is immediately described as unnecessary by right hon. and hon. Members who sit for other parts of Scotland.
§ Mr. Hector HughesInstead of making this road would the Minister consider putting roads across the Tay and the Forth, where they are badly needed?