HC Deb 09 February 1955 vol 536 cc1896-7
61. Mr. Bottomley

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he is going to give permission to the Rochester City Council to carry out road improvements at the junction of the trunk road A2 with North Street A2017 at Angel Corner.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am about to authorise the acquisition of the property required for the improvement of this junction. The improvement will be put in hand as soon as possible after the property has been acquired.

Mr. Bottomley

Why does the Minister not come clean on this? He sent a letter to the Mayor of Rochester after I had put down my Question. Is he aware that the divisional road engineer recommended at the beginning of December that something should be done? What has the Minister been doing in the meantime?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have had to consider this scheme as compared with a great many others. I hope the right hon. Gentleman will be pleased that it has now become possible to proceed with it. So far as the first part of the supplementary question is concerned, the right hon. Member is aware that I sent him a copy of the letter which I sent to the mayor.

Mr. Bottomley

Is the Minister aware that the Rochester City Council agreed a price with the owner and the district valuer provided that agreement was reached by a certain date, and that his Department was so told? That date has now been passed and the property might cost more. Is that the way to secure economy?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have no reason to believe that the property is likely to cost more. The right hon. Member must appreciate that I am dealing at the moment with a very large number of schemes.