§ 48. Mr. Rowlandasked the Minister of Transport what consideration she has given to the adequate provision of roads and of the capital required to build a railway system from Chelmsley Wood to Birmingham.
§ Mr. SwinglerWe are examining the possibility of an early scheme for a new dual carriageway road, to be provided by the Birmingham Corporation, to link Chelmsley Wood with the A452.
I have no information on the capital cost of providing a railway. If it were thought worth while such a project might suitably be examined as part of a follow-up to the West Midlands Transport Study.
§ Mr. RowlandAs it is essential that a new road be built before a community of 60,000 people is completed, will my hon. 1504 Friend give Birmingham every possible assistance in building this road, and will the Ministry also consult British Railways on the imaginative suggestion that a spur rail should be built into the middle of the new development?
§ Mr. SwinglerThe answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is "Yes". My right hon. Friend is prepared to consider a grant application for this scheme right away. There are certain land acquisition problems, but we hope that this can go ahead quickly.
With regard to the second part, this is a matter for study by consultants working for the West Midlands Transport Study.