§ 35. Mr. Bottomleyasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the present position concerning the construction of the proposed Rochester bypass road.
§ Mr. WatkinsonA draft scheme under the Special Roads Act, 1949, to determine the line of the Medway Motor Road was advertised in November, 1957. I am now considering objections to the scheme.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs it possible for the Minister to speed up the construction of this road? Is he aware of the appalling traffic conditions in Rochester where sometimes the delay is as long as three or four hours? Will he look into this matter as most urgent?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIf the objections are received, I am hopeful of overcoming them. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, one cannot and should not drive roughshod over the quite proper objections put forward by local authorities and other people. If the right hon. Gentleman can do anything to help in his own area I shall be grateful, because I am anxious to build this road as soon as possible.
§ Mr. BottomleyIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a Rochester bypass road has been under consideration for about thirty years? Is not that long to wait? If there are objections to be overcome, I will help the right hon. Gentleman.