HC Deb 17 March 1986 vol 94 c11
9. Sir Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration his Department is giving to traffic levels in Tavistock; and what plans he has for a bypass of the town.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Traffic arrangements in Tavistock are for the Devon county council. If the county council put forward proposals for a bypass, consideration would be given to their eligibility for transport supplementary grant.

Sir Peter Mills

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that there are growing problems on the route between Plymouth, Tavistock, Hatherleigh and the north? Given the increase in the number of heavy lorries and the container port at Plymouth, Tavistock and Hatherleigh will need proper bypasses. Will my hon. Friend accept that I do not want to have to wait 15 years, as I had to in the case of the Okehampton bypass, for those two bypasses?

Mr. Bottomley

I appreciate my hon. Friend's point, but he will understand that we are largely in the hands of Devon county council.