§ 18. Sir D. Rentonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now announce his intention with regard to building a bypass for the village of Kimbolton.
§ Mr. SpeedThe A45 through Kimbolton is the responsibility of the county council. However, the future requirements of this section of A45 can be determined only when decisions are taken on the proposed M1-A1 link in this area.
§ Sir D. RentonIs my hon. Friend aware that it looks from other answers and letters that I have received that decisions on these matters will not be taken for a year or two? Meanwhile juggernauts are unable to negotiate the bends at each end of this ancient village, and the walls of scheduled buildings centuries old are being knocked down. Will he do his best to give the highest priority for a bypass for Kimbolton?
§ Mr. SpeedI expect the feasibility study to be completed by the end of this year. If in the meantime the county wishes to put forward proposals for a bypass at Kimbolton we will consider them. However, it would be better to wait for the result of the feasibility study to get the right answer.
§ Mr. FryDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that, although many people welcome the fact that a motorway is likely between the Midlands and the East Coast, the A45, which runs through some very small places, needs improvement whether or not the motorway is built?
§ Mr. SpeedI appreciate that improvements are needed. We have accelerated the feasibility study and we hope to have the answers by the end of this year. It should solve many of the traffic problems that my hon. Friend and my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Huntingdonshire (Sir D. Renton) have in their constituencies.