§ 1. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Transport when a second carriageway is to be built along the main road from Ringwood to the Ferndown roundabout.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. John Hay)It is not clear that a second carriageway on the existing alignment would be the best solution. We are at present examining an alternative proposal by the Joint Planning Advisory Committee for Hampshire, Dorset and Bournemouth for a completely new trunk road which would by-pass the existing road between Ringwood and the Ferndown roundabout. I cannot at present say when a place could be found in the road programme for either of these schemes.
§ Captain PilkingtonIs it possible to speed things up? This part of the road is the most congested part between London and the Poole and Bournemouth area at present. Is my hon. Friend aware that, whereas on the Dorset side of 1010 the roundabout improvements have been made, on the Hampshire side nothing comparable has been done?
§ Mr. HayThe Joint Planning Advisory Committee has only recently put the alternative to us. I understand that it has asked that my right hon. Friend should receive a deputation and hear what the proposals are. I think that we had better have an opportunity of consulting with the Committee on this new project; we have got to get it right.