HC Deb 11 April 1962 vol 657 cc1303-4
31. Mr. Matthews

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered a scheme to share the cost of a service road on the south side of the A.5 trunk road at Grendon with the householders concerned.

Mr. Marples

My Department has no financial responsibility for the construction of this service road; the question of sharing the cost with the householders does not therefore arise.

Mr. Matthews

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this particular service road is likely to be a considerable source of danger when the new trunk road is developed and that, owing to rather special legal difficulties, the agreements with the frontagers are not enforceable because of delay in the road works in the early years after the war? Does my right hon. Friend agree that there seems to be some case for a little financial assistance being given to the frontagers?

Mr. Marples

I sympathise with my hon. Friend, but when these houses were built the frontagers knew from the beginning that they would have to bear the cost of constructing the service road. Most of the plots involved have conditions to this effect attached to every planning consent originally given. Therefore, I do not think that the Exchequer can take that burden from them.