§ 23. Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that the road from Kincardine Bridge to Milnathort is almost exclusively used by through traffic and is, in the absence of a nearer Forth crossing, the principal through road to the north; and whether he will assume responsibility for this part of the road as a trunk road.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI am aware that this road carries a substantial amount of through traffic. That is why it is classified as a Class I road. A preliminary examination of the 1954 traffic census discloses that whilst traffic on the Kincardine Bridge—Kinross road A.977 has increased considerably, traffic on the parallel trunk road A.91 between Stirling and Milnathort ha3 decreased. A detailed examination of the census for this area is being made; until it has been completed I cannot say whether any alteration in the status of A.977 and A.91 would be justified.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the congestion on the ferry takes place this road becomes immediately a direct road from the A.1 road to the North of Scotland and that there is very little domestic traffic on it? Is he aware that it is almost entirely used by through traffic and that if any road in the country should be a national road it should be this part of this road? Is he aware that industrialists in the area feel that the responsibility should be assumed by the right hon. Gentleman and that I hope that he will give early consideration to the matter?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think I have explained that this is a matter of whether this road or another should be a trunk road, and I must reserve decision until the census figures, which give the facts, are examined.