§ 26. Sir E. Erringtonasked the Postmaster-General why it is stated to be impossible for residents to obtain telephone service in the Rosemary Lane area of Blackwater, near Camberley, before 1964; and whether he will accelerate the provision of this service in view of its importance to business and other telephone users.
§ Miss PikeI am sorry that it is not possible to give telephone service to wait- 1066 ing applicants in the Rosemary Lane area until more cables have been laid. This work will take some months to complete and cannot be accelerated because of the many urgent commitments which the telephone manager has on hand.
§ Sir E. ErringtonDoes my hon. Friend realise that this is an area of very substantial development, and that the reason why these lines cannot be laid is because the county council has not decided on the road which it wants to construct in this district? Is it not possible for the Post Office to make arrangements which are not to be dependent on decisions of that character, and does not the Department look forward, in a case where a large number of houses is being built, to putting in the lines within a reasonable time?
§ Miss PikeThe position about this is that the county council did take some time to decide on the extension of its roads. That has now been agreed, the ducts are being laid and a start on laying the cable will be made in the spring of 1963.
§ Sir E. ErringtonWhen will it be completed?
§ Miss PikeA great many of the subscribers in two of the housing estates served by Rosemary Lane will not be getting their telephone service until the end of 1963, when the cable will be laid, or the beginning of 1964.