HC Deb 05 December 1962 vol 668 cc1295-6
20. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the re-routing of traffic from the south-west end of Theobalds Road, Bloomsbury, has aggravated congestion in High Holborn, east of the Kingsway junction; and has created an entirely new traffic-jam on the west side of Red Lion Square; and if he will take steps to ensure that such re-routings, diversions, and other experiments will not have the effect of merely transferring, instead of reducing, traffic-jams.

Mr. Marples

The present re-routing, which is not yet final, was designed to reduce traffic-jams and it has already improved traffic flow on most of the main routes through the area. The difficulties which remain in High Holborn and Red Lion Square will, I hope, be eased when the improvement scheme is completed early next year.

Mr. Driberg

While welcoming the assurances which the right hon. Gentleman has given in reply to the first part of the Question, may I ask whether he will kindly address himself to the second part, which he has not answered? It is of a more general nature, not referring to the Holborn area alone but covering, for instance, the Hyde Park Corner scheme about which, as he knows, there has been much criticism to the effect that he has transferred the traffic-jam and not abolished it.

Mr. Marples

This happens with every improvement that takes place. If there is a bottleneck at one intersection and it is dispensed with, it means that the traffic piles up on the next intersection, which has then to be dealt with. This problem has to be tackled in that order, The only alternative is to tackle every intersection simultaneously, which cannot be done by any Government.

Mr. Driberg

Should it not be tackled within the framework of a general plan, which apparently the right hon. Gentleman does not have? Did he read Mr. Pakenham's article in the Observer last Sunday?

Mr. Marples

I will send the hon. Gentleman a great number of Press notices which have been issued showing the benefits which have been derived from the schemes in operation. The curious thing is that in London as a whole it has proved of benefit.