HC Deb 27 October 1965 vol 718 cc159-60
45. Mr. George Jeger

asked the Minister of Transport why he has postponed the commencement of the Thorne by-pass, in view of the increasing traffic congestion on the A.614 and the need to facilitate access to the docks.

Mr. Swingler

The alignment of the southern end of the Thorne by-pass will need to be modified as a result of the decision to provide a Doncaster Southern by-pass as part of the proposed new trunk road network between Humberside and the Great North Road. Preparatory work is continuing with all speed, but I do not now expect that work on the Thorne by-pass can start before 1968.

Mr. Jeger

Is my hon. Friend aware that this has caused considerable dismay in the neighbourhood, that there has been congestion at this point in Thorne for many years and that we were looking forward to some dynamic action on the part of the Minister of Transport?

Mr. Swingler

My hon. Friend will get dynamic action with the programme which we have adopted for the Humberside network, which includes an improvement scheme for this area. However, we have run into engineering difficulties in regard to the proposed Thorne by-pass and that is why the scheme has been altered, but the delay in starting it will be only very short.