HC Deb 30 July 1958 vol 592 cc1357-8
40. Mr. Gower

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if, in order to assist in the development of general cargo traffic through the South Wales ports, he will further expedite the improvement of road and rail communications between South Wales and the Midlands; if he will treat with urgency the removal of bottlenecks at Chepstow and Newport; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nugent

An adequate road link between the South Wales ports and the Midlands is one of our five major road projects. The whole project will include the northern section of the Bristol—Birmingham motorway, the Ross Spur motorway, the new Heads-of-the-Valleys road and the improvement of existing trunk roads to Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. Traffic congestion at Chepstow should be relieved as a result of these works and we are at present considering the best solution for Newport.

The British Transport Commission has in hand works at Stratford-on-Avon, Fenny Compton, Honeybourne and the marshalling yard at Port Talbot to improve freight facilities between South Wales and the Midlands and work is expected to start next year on a freight scheme at Severn Tunnel Junction.

Mr. Gower

Does my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary appreciate that a lot of the schemes that have been announced will be of little value to the ports of Cardiff, Barry and Newport unless something is done to bypass the bottleneck at Newport? Can he say something about the second crossing of the River Usk which was promised by his Department a long time ago?

Mr. Nugent

I will be pleased to look into this matter for my hon. Friend. With regard to the problem of Newport, I did mention that we were already considering it. My right hon. Friend and I have appointed a consulting engineer to give us a report on it. We are most anxious to find the best solution as soon as possible.

Mr. J. Griffiths

In view of the developments at Milford Haven, do the hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friend realise how important it is to connect South-West Wales and Milford Haven with the rest of the country?

Mr. Nugent

We certainly do.