HC Deb 05 December 1962 vol 668 cc1292-3
15. Mr. Prior

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will state the basis for determining the priorities for road improvements on the A.12 between Ipswich and Great Yarmouth.

Mr. Hay

In deciding what works are to be done on A.12, as on all other trunk roads, we have regard primarily to the volumes of traffic, especially heavy industrial traffic, and the extent of any overload; to road safety and to any special or local factors.

Mr. Prior

Is my hon. Friend aware that, whilst I appreciate that those are the sort of conditions that have to operate, on the stretch between Ipswich and Great Yarmouth traffic does not alter very much but the road priorities do, and a lot of local people feel that the priorities given to some stretches of road are incorrect, while other stretches of road, which need improvement far more, are left in their present state?

Mr. Hay

One of the difficulties in our work is that every local authority considers that its own road schemes should have priority over those of every one else. This makes life very complicated and difficult for us in the Ministry of Transport. Nevertheless, we try to judge all claims by as objective tests as we can provide, and those tests are referred to in my Answer.

Mr. Fell

But this is not very positive —[Interruption.]—well, my hon. Friend's Answer did not seem to convey anything. Is my hon. Friend aware that Great Yarmouth is the most popular holiday resort on the East Coast? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] It is not often that I make a constituency point. Is my hon. Friend aware that at certain times of the year there is an enormous volume of traffic on this very inadequate road? This is one of the things he mentioned in his original reply. Will he, therefore, give urgent consideration to the priorities mentioned in the Question of my hon. Friend the Member for Lowestoft (Mr. Prior)?

Mr. Hay

My hon. Friend's supplementary question shows how difficult it is for us to agree on these things. His view as to which is the most popular seaside resort on the East Coast did not receive universal approval in the House —neither do the views of any local authority about road priorities and improvements receive universal approval. I have answered the Question, and I have set out what we take into account in these matters. It does not mean that because we take those things into account, we do not agree that some roads need improving, as, for example, the one that has been mentioned.