HL Deb 05 March 1959 vol 214 cc807-8

3.5 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 much of the very excellent work and expenditure undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation on A.1 is not being negatived by the failure to deal with the situation at Stamford, and whether information can be given as to what is being done to deal with this notorious and dangerous bottleneck.]

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, the plans for the improvement of A.1 include the provision of a new dual-carriageway road nearly 4½ miles long to by-pass Stamford. Tenders have already been invited and construction of the bypass is expected to begin early this summer. If all goes well, the new road should be open to traffic within two years.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his Answer, may I ask him whether he is aware of the really considerable factor of urgency in this matter. No doubt the noble Earl is aware that, with the congestion of traffic on A.1, the state of affairs in Stamford is most dangerous. That situation must have been foreseen a considerable time ago. Can the work possibly be hurried up in any way or given better priority?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I am well aware of those conditions. Work on this road is going forward with the greatest possible speed.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, in view of the fact that a year ago to-morrow, in answer to a Question by my noble friend Lord Howe, the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, said that work on this road would start early this spring, can my noble friend say what has been the reason for the delay, and what has prevented this road from being started before the summer?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, I feel that the noble Lord, Lord Derwent, somewhat exaggerates the extent of the delay. The noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, said work would start in the spring—not the early spring; and I said, the early summer, not the summer.

LORD REA

My Lords, perhaps the noble Earl would ask the noble Lord, Lord Mancroft, to which spring he was referring a year ago.

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