§ 48. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Transport how much land he has acquired in Porthill, Newcastle-under-Lyme, for future road schemes; if he is aware of the nuisance emanating from one of the sites he has compulsorily acquired; and if, in view of the amount of inevitable disturbance to local residents caused by road schemes, he will take special steps to put a stop to avoidable nuisances.
§ Mr. GalbraithWe have made advance purchases of an engineering works, and seven dwelling houses in Porthill, and we are negotiating for two more houses, none under compulsory powers. We have recently become aware of the complaints of nuisance about the engineering works and, when inquiries have been completed, my right hon. Friend will reply fully to the letter which the hon. Member sent to him on 8th July.
§ Mr. SwinglerI have to thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but is he aware that there is a long-standing grievance about the siting of this industrial works in the middle of a residential area, and that there would be great benefit to the local community if the Ministry, having now become the landlord of this site, were to hasten the removal of this industrial works elsewhere?
§ Mr. GalbraithI think that the best thing is to await the outcome of the investigations my right hon. Friend is conducting at the moment.