§ 31. Mr. Kershawasked the Minister of Transport why he intends to spend £24,000 on the Aston Dawn bypass.
§ Mr. HayA length of the original Cirencester-Stroud road across Aston Down airfield is now permanently stopped up, and a safer and more convenient substitute is required in place of the existing narrow road, which has two right-angled bends, which traffic has had to use since 1940. The Secretary of State for Air will provide the new road under an Order which my right hon. Friend made on 13th August on the basis of a report from the War Works Commission.
§ Mr. KershawIs my hon. Friend aware that we have got on very well with the old road since 1940 and that this is £24,000 of absolutely unnecessary expenditure?
§ Mr. HayThat is the opinion of my hon. Friend. If he wishes to pursue the matter, he ought to take it up with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Air. But I should point out to him that the cost of putting the old road into order, were we not to build the new road, would be something between £10,000 and £12,000. That ought to be taken into account when assessing whether we are wasting £24,000.
§ Mr. KershawIs not the old road in perfectly good order as it is?