§ 19. Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether he will make a statement on his plans for widening and making safer that portion of Leek Road which lies between Stoke and Milton; how long the plans have been in existence; and what is the number of fatal and non-fatal accidents that have occurred during these years.
§ Mr. NugentPlans for this road are a matter for the Stoke-on-Trent City Council as highway authority.
We have made grants totalling £40,000 during the past two years towards the cost of improvements to the road, and we hope to be able to contribute another £10,000 or so next year towards a widening scheme at the Milton end. This will complete the last stage of a plan which the council has been carrying out as circumstances allowed since 1938.
Since that date there have been 15 fatalities, 74 persons seriously injured, and 343 slightly injured on this 3½ mile length of road.
§ Dr. StrossDoes the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the figures that he has given of injuries sustained on this short stretch of road prove how important it is to widen and extend the road right through to the village of Milton? Will he give an assurance that under no circumstances will there be any further delay so far as he is concerned?
§ Mr. NugentAs I told the House, we intend to make a grant which will enable this widening to be completed next year.