§ 37. Mr. J. Howardasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that many unadopted service roads on industrial trading estates are in a bad condition; and if he will introduce legislation making it binding upon local authorities to give priority to the adoption of these roads where the industrial ratepayers concerned are willing and anxious to meet the cost of making up these roads.
§ Mr. H. BrookeLocal authorities already have power to adopt private roads once they have been made up to their satisfaction. I do not think it would be right to require them to give priority to any particular class of road.
§ Mr. HowardWill my right hon. Friend look at the position of those local authorities, such as Southampton, with 1027 an unduly large number of unadopted roads in residential areas, to see if any help or preference can be given to those authorities, so that roads on industrial estates can take their turn in the queue without waiting too long?
§ Mr. BrookeI think that this matter must be left to the discretion of the individual local authority. I understand that Southampton had adopted the 1892 Act, and in that case it is open to the frontagers of any street to make it up to the local authority's satisfaction and then serve notice on the authority requiring it to adopt the street.
§ Dr. KingWill the Minister bear in mind that in places like Southampton the needs of private citizens and their very shocking private roads are as great as those of industrial areas? Will he therefore stick to the principle of his original reply?
§ Mr. BrookeI think that I have said all that I can say on this subject, and I hope that I have made the position clear.