§ 10. Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Minister of Transport when he expects that work will begin on the Andover bypass.
§ Mr. HayProposals for the expansion of Andover to take overspill from London may affect the plans for the bypass and the side roads which are being reconsidered in consultation with the agent authority, the Hampshire County 146 Council. The draft Orders will be published as soon as possible after the plans have been agreed. In these circumstances, it is too early to say when work will start.
§ Mr. FreethWill my hon. Friend confirm or deny that agreement has been reached on the plans Which were sent to his Minister by the county surveyor on 23rd November last? Can my hon. Friend state whether or not his Ministry will have given approval to these plans so that a public inquiry on the proposed by-pass can be held early this year at the same time as the expected public inquiry into the new proposed town plan for Andover?
§ Mr. HayWith regard to the second half of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, this is one of the things we have in mind, because we are anxious to save time where we can. On the first part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, the current position is that the revised, alternative proposals for the bypass and side roads have been prepared by the county and are being considered by our divisional road engineer in conjunction with the county surveyor. It may be some time before these proposals can be settled and the draft Orders published, but we shall get on with it as quickly as we can.