§ 9. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he is at present considering for the relief of traffic congestion on the main road through Newcastle-under-Lyme.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe line of the proposed Preston-Birmingham motor road lies to the west of Newcastle-under-Lyme, and this road, when completed, will do much to relieve the traffic congestion in the town. I cannot at present add more to the statement I made on 2nd February last about the expanded road programme.
§ Mr. SwinglerIs the Minister aware of the great urgency of pressing forward with this project, because it is now quite impossible to cope satisfactorily with the peak traffic of 700 vehicles an hour now passing through the ancient Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme? Will he, therefore, press forward with the necessary diversion of traffic as quickly as possible?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI think the hon. Gentleman has in mind a particular project which is not referred to in his Question, but I agree that there is a serious traffic problem there, as in many other places, and I am anxious to tackle it and them as quickly as possible.