§ 6. Mr. L. Thomasasked the Minister of Transport what are his plans for the provision of a by-pass road to relieve congestion in Canterbury.
§ Mr. MarplesThe Canterbury County Borough Council has recently submitted a scheme to extend the inner relief road and to construct a spur linking it to the London Road—A.2—at a cost of over £500,000. This will enable through traffic and certain local traffic to avoid the city centre, and should materially relieve congestion there. The details of the scheme are now being studied and I expect to be able to issue the necessary grant within the current financial year.
§ Mr. ThomasWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that Answer, which will obviously bring a great deal of satisfaction, not only to the citizens of Canterbury but to hundreds of thousands of tourists to and from the Continent who are now suffering from this congestion, may I ask him whether he will have another look at the apportionment of the costs of construction and maintenance as between his Ministry and the city in view of the many additions which have been made to the plans within the last two or three months?
§ Mr. MarplesThis is a very big problem. I will certainly look at it without extending any hope to my hon. Friend.