Dovercourt By-Pass

HC Deb 23 November 1966 vol 736 c1386

25. Mr. Ridsdale

asked the Minister of Transport when work on the Dovercourt by-pass to Harwich will begin.

Mr. Swingler

Essex County Council, as highway and planning authority, is considering the line for a Dovercourt bypass. Until proposals are received from it we cannot judge when work might begin.

Mr. Ridsdale

As Harwich is one of the terminals of the liner trains, who is guilty of restrictive practices—the Government or the Essex County Council?

Mr. Swingler

I have just told the hon. Member that the Essex County Council is both the highway authority and the planning authority in this respect. It is therefore not for my right hon. Friend to initiate proposals. As the hon. Gentleman knows, many improvements down the A12 and from Colchester to Harwich are being made for just the purpose he mentioned.