§ 3. Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate for the commencement date for the A6 bypass of Rushden and Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Peter Bottomley)Subject to the clearance of the statutory procedures, and provided that the resources are available, construction could begin during 1990.
§ Mr. FryIs my hon. Friend aware that a possible route for the bypass has been in existence for many years and so there is likely to be the minimum amount of opposition to it? What is required is the will and the money to build it, and in those circumstances can my hon. Friend make any improvement on the date that he has given me?
§ Mr. BottomleyI shall do what I can. The scheme has always been in the reserve list at the end of the roads programme. We now have a good prospect of a start in 1990.
§ Mr. William PowellMay I endorse what my hon. Friend the Member for Wellingborough (Mr. Fry) said? The delay in providing the bypass is having extremely bad effects upon my constituents in the parish of Stanwick, through which traffic is being diverted simply because the existing facilities through Higham Ferrers and Rushden are so crowded. Any improvement in the date will be welcomed by my constituents.
§ Mr. BottomleyI am grateful to my hon. Friend. It is clear that any improvements that we can make in the roads programme will generally be welcomed by people in the locality.