§ 34. Mr. Fenner Brockwayasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reply he has given to the Association of British Chambers of Commerce regarding the need for a national plan of 1715 road improvement; to proposals by the Slough Chamber of Commerce for a northern by-pass to relieve the congestion in Slough High Street; for bridge improvements at Uxbridge Road, Wexham Road, Dover Road and Leigh Road; and for junction improvements where service roads meet the main road.
§ Mr. MolsonMy right hon. Friend has discussed fully and sympathetically with a deputation from the Association of British Chambers of Commerce their case for an expanded programme and has undertaken to consider their representations. As the reply to the other points in the hon. Member's Question is rather detailed, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. BrockwayWill the hon. Gentleman pay special attention to the need for a by-pass to relieve Slough on three grounds: first, the need for an outlet from West London to the West; secondly, the danger of accidents in the congested area; and, thirdly, the fact that £183,000 has already been tied up in this scheme and that ever since 1939 there have been bridge foundations at Bray which cost £63,000 and which are still lying waste there?
Following are the details:I have no knowledge of proposals having been made to me by the Slough Chamber of Commerce about a northern by-pass or about bridge improvements in Uxbridge Road and Wexham Road. I have replied to representations from them about bridges in Dover Road and Leigh Road that, as these are on unclassified roads, the cost of reconstructing them would not be eligible for grant, but that any application from the highway authority for authorisation under Defence Regulation 56A or for loan sanction would receive consideration. A meeting has been held with the Slough Chamber of Commerce to discuss conditions at the junction of a service road with Bath Road and experiments are now being carried out to ascertain whether the provision of a refuge as suggested at the meeting would be a satisfactory solution.