§ 22. Mr. Hastingsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the report by his regional controller on the safety of the Al in the vicinity of the villages of Beeston, Wyboston and Chawston.
§ Mr. SpeedWe have decided to provide a footbridge at Wyboston as soon as possible and propose to close openings in the central reservation here and at Chawston. Study of the rest of Al in Bedfordshire, including Beeston, is still proceeding.
§ Mr. HastingsIs my hon. Friend aware that this will cause a great deal of relief to the people of Wyboston and Chawston, but that Beeston is still in a perilous position? Does he recall that this stretch of the Al was disgracefully badly planned in the first place? There can only be one answer—a footbridge or an underpass. Now that he has made this welcome announcement about the stretch through Wyboston and Chawston will he ensure that as soon as the controller reports something is also done about Beeston?
§ Mr. SpeedAs my hon. Friend knows, we are awaiting a report on traffic and conditions from the county council, and we will certainly be considering the Beeston situation very carefully when we have received that report.