HL Deb 25 February 1959 vol 214 cc487-8

2.35 p.m.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is now possible to state when the Denham end of the Western Avenue will be made into a twin track road; whether the Government are aware that owing to its lack of width this section is responsible for many accidents resulting in casualties and that it constitutes one of the worst bottlenecks on any main road leading into or out of the London area; whether Her Majesty's Government are aware of the very great concentration of light car and heavy commercial vehicle traffic on this road and whether, in any proposals to deal with the situation, it can be stated that they will receive priority.]

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, work on improving Western Avenue has had to be carried out in phases. The policy of my right honourable friend, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, was to undertake this improvement of Western Avenue outwards from its London end, since traffic on the Avenue is progressively heavier as London is approached. As two dualling schemes already authorised are now effectively completed, my right honourable friend has decided that a second carriageway should be constructed as soon as possible at the Denham end of Western Avenue and the preparatory work for this scheme is now going forward. I cannot yet say when constructional work will start, but the scheme has been given high priority.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his Answer. He will, no doubt be aware that much of the work on the second carriageway was completed before the last war; the piers and the bridge were all completed before the last war. Does he not think that there can be a little gesture of haste about it to try to get it finished off now? The noble Earl said that the congestion was greater as London was approached, but that does not apply to the Denham end of the Western Avenue.

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, in my original reply I said that this scheme was now being given high priority, and no doubt the constructional work carried out before the war will make its completion even more rapid.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, can my noble friend say whether the land acquisition for this new stretch has yet been completed?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

I regret to say that I cannot.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, I hope that this new work will not have priority over the Handcross By-Pass which was also started before the war.

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