44. Mr. Smithersasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will now proceed with construction of the new link road connecting the Newbury-Winchester Road with the Winchester by-pass and with the new road continuing the southern end of the by-pass with Bassett and Ower, with a view to diverting heavy traffic from the Midlands away from the city of Winchester and to facilitate the passage of summer traffic to the south coast.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe first step must be to publish the necessary draft Orders under the Trunk Roads Act, 1946. This I hope to do shortly, but I cannot at present say when it will be possible to proceed with these schemes.
Mr. SmithersIs my right hon. Friend aware that this first step will be very welcome, that Winchester depends for its livelihood very largely on retail trade, and that the present road is badly choked?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir.