HC Deb 16 May 1956 vol 552 cc1981-2
26. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will consider widening A4 alongside London Airport so as to make it a six-track road to reduce congestion and increase safety.

Mr. Watkinson

The whole problem of the provision of adequate road approaches to London Airport and of relieving congestion on the Bath Road in the vicinity of the Airport is under urgent examination, but I have not yet decided what improvements it will be possible to carry out.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this road alongside the airport is becoming extremely crowded with buses, coaches, lorries and airport traffic, and that there are also cars wandering along with people watching the aeroplanes? As there is the grass alongside the road, would it not be better to make this a six-track road?

Mr. Watkinson

There are three possibilities. There is the question of a new railway into London Airport; there is the question of a mono-rail service between London and the airport; and there is the question of either improving the Bath Road or building a section of the new motor road which would link up with the Cromwell Road Extension. I am not yet in a position to decide which of those is the best, and which, therefore, should have top priority.

Mr. Beswick

Would the Minister bear in mind that the local authorities in this area, despite the rejection of their proposals by the Minister previously, still feel that this road should be widened? Will he further bear in mind that it is quite useless to spend thousands of pounds to get aircraft to fly a little faster if the time is wasted on the road approaching the airport?

Mr. Watkinson

I absolutely agree with that statement; we must get better access to London Airport. I am not saying that we may not have to widen the Bath Road, but there may be a better alternative, and that is what I am now studying