§ 16. Sir A. Hudsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he is aware that plans for the redevelopment of the derelict area near the Clock Tower in Lewisham High Street are being held up until he has given his approval to the road improvement scheme therein; and whether he will now announce his decision.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe London County Council was informed in December, 1952, that the scheme as submitted by it could not be approved as it did not provide a satisfactory solution of the traffic problem at this road junction.
§ Sir A. HudsonCan my right hon. Friend do anything to expedite the matter? There is a derelict area near this very important road junction, and I know that the local authority wants to get on with its planning.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI know the site to which the hon. Baronet refers, but this is not a question of expediting anything; it is a question of a proposal having been put up in December, 1952, which involved the creation of a shopping centre in the middle of what would have been a roundabout surrounded by 40-ft. roads—which, upon traffic grounds, simply could not be approved.