HC Deb 12 April 1961 vol 638 cc221-2
17. Mr. Leather

asked the Minister of Transport when he proposes to acquire the land necessary for the proposed bypass road at Keynsham in Somerset.

Mr. Marples

I cannot purchase all the land required for the scheme until the side road Order is made. This was published in draft in September, 1960, and I am now considering the numerous objections made to it.

Mr. Leather

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the intention to acquire this land was made public thirteen years ago and the notice to treat was given over two years ago? Since then absolutely nothing has happened. Can he give us an adequate explanation for the delay and an assurance that we shall get on with it at long last?

Mr. Marples

My hon. Friend is not Tight in his statement. The side road Order was published in draft in September, 1960, and during the three months statutory period numerous objections were received from local residents and from the county council. They have to be taken into account. There are many difficulties entailed because many people are objecting and it is most unlikely that we shall be in a position to finalise the Order. We may have to re-publish it. Under our normal land acquisition procedures we cannot do very much until the side road Orders are made.

18. Mr. Leather

asked the Minister of Transport when the route for the proposed by-pass road at Keynsham in Somerset was designed.

Mr. Marples

The Somerset County Council, as our agent authority, was invited to prepare the detailed design in June, 1958. Again, until the side roads Order, against which a number of objections have been lodged, has been made, the design cannot be finalised.

Mr. Leather

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the detailed design of 1958 follows a pattern that was laid down in 1945; that since that time there has been very considerable development on the east side of Keynsham, and that if the thing is done according to the plan as it now stands the by-pass will debouch into the village of Saltford and will simply produce a worse bottleneck there? Is he further aware that the whole four-mile stretch from there to Bath is no more than a winding country track, already grossly overloaded?

Mr. Marples

That may be so in respect of traffic difficulties, but, again, a side roads Order was published in draft in September, 1960, and numerous objections have been received. Those people concerned have been given the right by this House to make those objections, and those objections must be considered, and I cannot affirm what will happen until they have been considered.

Mr. Leather

Most unsatisfactory.

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