§ 2. Mr. Warrenasked the Minister of Transport if he will consider the need to rebuild the A21 trunk road as a dual carriageway from Tonbridge to Hastings.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. John Horam)No, Sir; our approach is to improve the route by providing bypasses, such as those for Pembury, Hurst Green and Robertsbridge, which we announced recently.
§ Mr. WarrenBearing in mind that in 1974 the Government doubled the minimum qualification for trunk roads to give dual carriageways 17,000 vehicles a day, will the Minister himself bear in mind that there has been an enormous growth in the South-East of England, especially on the A21, of long-vehicle and juggernaut traffic, which has made the 17,000 vehicles qualification irrelevant and far greater than warranted by the roads?
§ Mr. HoramIt is true that the figure was increased to 17,000 in 1974, but it still does not mean that this road meets the requirements. I am sure that the hon. Gentleman wants this road improved as fast as possible. If we can do it in small pieces by means of bypassing these attractive villages, we can probably do something quicker than by going for a whole new route.
Mr. WellsIs the Minister aware that Kent has more goods vehicle traffic passing through it than any other county and that north-south routes, especially this one, are probably the most lacking in improvement of any in the country? What is more, Kent is the most densely populated county. Will the hon. Gentleman do something for our road programme, because we are starved of cash for roads, especially in the north-south direction?
§ Mr. HoramThe hon. Gentleman makes a fair point. We are conscious of Kent's problems with heavy lorries and juggernauts and we are conscious also that it has not had its fair share of road spending in the past. That is why we are anxious to improve these roads as quickly as possible.