Stoke-on-Trent D Road

HC Deb 20 October 1971 vol 823 cc720-1

45. Mr. Golding

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware of the hardship caused to individual families and firms in Newcastle-under-Lyme arising out of the construction of the Stoke-on-Trent D road; and whether he will make attempts to minimise these as much as possible.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

Yes, Sir. My hon. Friend has in fact already taken steps to minimise hardship and disturbance.

Mr. Golding

Is the Minister aware that since I last heard from him the people of Orford Street, in my constituency, have become subject to flooding for the first time and that they believe that the very difficult conditions in which they will have to live for two years or so entitle them to some compensation?

Mr. Heseltine

The Government's review of compensation has not yet been concluded. We are aware of the real difficulty of the hon. Gentleman's constituents. I hope he will understand that we have made every effort to ensure close liaison with the contractors and our resident engineer, and that we have done all we reasonably can for what is bound to be a difficult period until the road is completed.