§ 33. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what work will be carried out this year to widen and straighten roads A5 between Atherstone and Gailey, A51 between Lichfield and Stone, A34 between Stone and Manchester, A41 between Westonunder-Lizard and Whitchurch and A49 between Whitchurch and Tarporley, respectively.
§ Mr. WatkinsonOn these stretches of road, except A.49, some 22 schemes costing sonie £1,145,000 are in progress or are due to start this year. Two further schemes on A.34 costing £822,000 will probably he authorised this year, but are unlikely to start until next. I will circulate details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. JohnsonIs my right hon. Friend aware that, although his statement will be received with some satisfaction by users of those roads, they are still really nothing but winding country lanes and quite unfit for modern traffic conditions?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI hope my hon. Friend did hear the answer to that Question. If it prompts him to read the list of schemes which I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT, a very large number of schemes, costing in total, as I have said, something like £2 million, I think he will not be dissatisfied that we are making some progress.
§ Following is the list of schemes in progress or expected to start in the financial year 1956–57: 390
| (1) A.5 between Atherstone and Galley. Trunk Road | |
| £ | |
| Improvement at Brown's shop, Wilnecote. (Est. Cost) | 820 |
| Bus draw-in at Ninefoot, Wilnecote. (Est. Cost) | 230 |
| Widening of Wilnecote Station Bridge. (Est. Cost) | 3,600 |
| Widening from Weeford Cross Roads (A.446) to A.38. (Est. Cost) | 119,635 |
| Improvement at Hannay Hay Cross Roads. (Est. Cost) | 9,355 |
| Roundabout at Muckley Corner (A.446). (Est. Cost) | 14,520 |
| Roundabout at junction of A.5 and A.452, Brownhills. (Est. Cost) | 3,566 |
| £151,726 |
§ There are no major improvement schemes in progress on this length of road, but the above schemes are expected to be started this year.
| (2) A.34 between Stone and Talke. Trunk Road | |
| £ | |
| Improvement north of Filleybrooks River Bridge. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 36,356 |
| Provision of dual carriageways Crown Inn, Aston to Filleybrooks River Bridge. Expected to start this year. (Est. Cost) | 295,000 |
| £331,356 |
| (3) A.41 between Weston-under-Lizard and Whitchurch. Trunk Road | |
| £ | |
| Standford Bridge Diversion. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 39,546 |
| Widening north of Standford Bridge. Expected to start this year. (Est. Cost) | 16,000 |
| £55,546 |
| (4) A.49 between Whitchurch and Tarporley. Trunk Road | |
| No schemes in progress, and no schemes expected to start this year. | |
| (5) A.51 between Lichfield and Stone. Classified Road | |
| £ | |
| Longdon by-bass. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 58,980 |
| Widening between Milestone "Lichfield 5" and north end of Longdon by-bass. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 38,834 |
| Rugeley by-bass. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 92,489 |
| Diversion at Carr House Railway Bridge. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 69,971 |
| Improvement at Little Stoke. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 2,239 |
| Stone by-bass. May be started this year. (Est. Cost) | 165,000 |
| £427,513 |
| (6) A.34 between Talke and Manchester. Classified Road | |
| £ | |
| Congleton By-pass. In progress. (Est. Cost) | 77,000 |
| Widening at Wilmslow Road, Handforth In progress. (Est. Cost) | 74,323 |
| Improvement at junction of Padgbury Lane, Astbury Marsh. Authorised and expected to start this year. (Est. Cost) | 1,909 |
| Improvement at Congleton Road, Alderley Edge. Authorised and expected to start this year. (Est. Cost) | 19,576 |
| Improvement of London Road, Alderley Edge. Authorised and expected to start this year. (Est. Cost) | 5,500 |
| £178,308 |