§ 20. Mr. Greyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether there has yet been any agreement reached between the Durham County Council and the Durham City Council on the question of the new road through Durham.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNot as far as I know, Sir.
§ Mr. GreyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the dangerous situation in the City of Durham at the moment because of the increased traffic and the need for the new road? Is he aware that in 1937 therewas an agreed scheme? What has become of it? If no agreement is reached between the two authorities in the near future, will the right hon. Gentleman himself suggest a scheme?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI will have a look at the matter. The trouble at the moment isthat the county council want to take the high level road and the city council the low level, and until they reach agreement I am in rather a difficulty.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs lack of finance one of the reasons why agreement has not been reached? Will the righthon. Gentleman extend his sympathy to these authorities if and when they wish to proceed?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydThe best sequence of action would be for them to agree and come to me with an agreed scheme, and I should then have to judge it in the light of existing priorities.
Mr. SlaterWhile the Minister has to depend on plans submitted by the local authorities, my hon. Friend the Member for Durham (Mr. Grey) has correctly stated that on more than one occasion the two authorities have been at variance with each other about which way the road should go. Surely the right hon. Gentleman will be receiving reports from his road engineer about the matter. Would it not be in the interests of both local authorities if the Minister could find time to visit Durham and look at the matter himself?
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydI am quite ready to do that, but both authorities have promised to report to me on the matter and neither has yet done so, and I am awaiting their reports as a preliminary.