§ 6. Mr. Edward Evansasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, in view of the representations made to him by the Halesworth Urban District Council and by the hon. Member for Lowestoft, in respect of the inconvenience and loss incurred by the closing of the Halesworth Station railway gates for extended periods each day, he will now take steps in conjunction with the East Suffolk County Council for the construction of a road bridge over the railway at an adjacent site plans for which are already in being.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am aware of the need for this scheme but I cannot yet say whether I shall be able to accept it for grant this year.
§ Mr. EvansIs the Minister aware that there is considerable loss to the economic life of the town of Halesworth and the surrounding country by the inordinate length of time which this bridge is closed every day? The right hon. Gentleman has been provided with statistics by the local authority. Has he given consideration also to the strategic importance of 1144 this bridge, because it would link up parts of East Anglia where there are important military sites of high strategic importance?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThere is a good deal of force in the first half of the hon. Member's supplementary question. I know that this scheme is needed, and I will do my best to fit it in. But, as the hon. Gentleman will understand, it has to be fitted in with others, the need for which is also urgent.