§ 1. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Transport whether he will revise the general line of the projected motorway to link the Birmingham. Bristol motorway to Exeter and the West, in such a way that it passes to the south of Bristol instead of to the north, in order that Dorset and south Somerset may derive some benefit from it.
§ The Minister of Transport (Mr. Ernest Marples)The line of the route for the southern section of the Birmingham-Bristol motorway from Twyning to East Brent is still being investigated by consulting engineers. It is too early for me to say what my proposals will be.
§ Mr. DigbyWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask him to look again very carefully at this before he decides to run the motorway with the sea on one side, in view of the large area to the south in Dorset and south Somerset where we have had very little share of modern motoring facilities?
§ Mr. MarplesI will look at that, but so far the indications are that a by-pass to the north of Bristol will have advantages over a by-pass to the south-east of the city, but I am bound to say that further investigation is required but the point my hon. Friend has made will be taken into account.
§ Mr. McLarenWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this very important motorway should pass to the north of Bristol so as to provide modern road communications for the growing, progressing port of Avonmouth and for the new chemical works at Severnside?
§ Mr. MarplesPerhaps my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. McLaren) will consult my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby) to settle these matters between them and arrive at a considered decision and then let me know.