HC Deb 25 January 1967 vol 739 cc1474-5
13. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Transport what plans she has for extending the motorway system south-west of Bristol and for linking mid-Dorset with the system.

41. Mr. Dean

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has yet given her approval to the construction of a motorway in the South-West; to what places in the South-West this motorway will run; and when she estimates it will be completed.

Mrs. Castle

I intend that a new road should be built between the M5 at Edithmead and Exeter, but the line of the complete road, the standard of construction and the timing have still to be decided.

The case for links between the motorway system and mid-Dorset is being considered in my planning for the 1970's.

Mr. Digby

Will the right hon. Lady get on with this planning as soon as possible, as we have learnt how long it takes between planning and completion of a motorway? Is it her intention to link up this section with the new Basingstoke motorway or with the Bristol motorway?

Mrs. Castle

I hope to announce very shortly the first instalment list of inter-urban schemes to be put into preparation now. I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's desire to have the information as quickly as possible. Until it is available I cannot answer his detailed points.

Mr. Dean

Does the right hon. Lady realise that it is very disappointing that she has not been able to give the date? Does she recognise that this project is the most important one for the future prosperity of the West Country and that until she gives specific plans and dates we shall not feel that she means business about improving our road system in the West Country?

Mrs. Castle

As I have explained in a recent speech, progress is starting on a series of by-passes which will eventually contribute to this motorway. The Cullompton by-pass is expected to start this spring and we shall be announcing details of the succeeding ones as quickly as possible.

Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

Will the right hon. Lady please tell us what are the target dates, first for the completion of procedural work and secondly for the completion of structural work? She must at least have target dates even if she cannot tell us if the targets will be met.

Mrs. Castle

I must ask the hon. Member to await the announcement of the next phase of the inter-urban programme.

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