§ 4. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that land was purchased before the war at Forest Hall for the construction of a bridge south of the level crossing, that a child's life has been lost through a long hold-up of this level crossing, and that the stoppage of traffic at this spot is now serious; and if he will give an assurance that the Northumberland County Council will be given a grant for building this bridge for the year 1962–63.
§ Mr. HayAs my right hon. Friend explained in his recent letter to the hon. Member, although there is delay at this level crossing, there are, unfortunately, many other bottlenecks where road improvements are needed even more urgently than at Forest Hall. We cannot therefore promise a grant for this scheme in the near future, but we shall keep it in mind for consideration as soon as funds permit.
§ Mr. McKayI am sure the Minister will realise that this is an exceptional decision in so far as this land was bought twenty years ago for the special purpose and there has been twenty years increase of traffic. Businessmen and doctors are held up. We hope that the Minister will give the bridge some form of priority in future. Will he say that he will do so?
§ Mr. HayNorthumberland County Council included this scheme in its proposed forward programme submitted last year. The priority the county council attached to it, however, will not secure a place for it in the first three years of the new classified roads programme we announced last year.