§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, if there is somebody to answer it, I beg to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider provision of a short-length by-pass road for King's Lynn, to accommodate the yearly increasing North South traffic, including that from across the Ouse.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, it is a new experience to me to be welcomed as I am about to answer a Question. The Norfolk County Development Plan includes a proposal for a bypass of King's Lynn. The length of the proposed by-pass is about five miles. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation is at present in touch with the Norfolk County Council about the inclusion of this by-pass in the road programme. However, I would warn the noble Earl that even with the current high level of expenditure on roads, so much needs to be done that my right honourable friend sees little prospect of being able to authorise an early start on the construction of this by-pass at present.
In the interim period in order to assist traffic in the town, my right honourable friend has authorised an improvement at the junction of A.47 and A.149 at South Gates, and is discussing with the County Council their proposals to improve Gaywood Road level crossing and East-gate Bridge on A.149.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, that is a fairly favourable answer, and I thank the noble Earl for it. The part of the Question which talks about aiding North-South traffic is the part which I want to make the subject of a supplementary question, if the noble Earl will allow me. I understand that the voices of Norfolk are not so clamant as those in some other parts of the country to which the Ministry has to attend. But do not Her Majesty's Government think that a sort of quid pro quo or douceur might be handed out to the community which is suffering as the result of the metals having been taken up from the Midland and Great Northern Railway track, which railway jigs all along the upper levels of Norfolk and does not cover a straight line of country? The bus company who have taken the place of the railway would also be greatly helped if the Government could give special additional grants to encourage 277 them. They are, after all, a private enterprise and not, like the railway, a nationalised concern. I would ask the Government whether they do not think that the community might be given special aid by way of grants.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I would first of all say that I am grateful that the noble Earl was not disappointed after the acclamation he gave me when I started to answer his original Question. I am sure that my right honourable friend is taking and will take into account the special considerations which have resulted not from the actual removal of the metals but from the removal of certain passenger trains from that area. I would remind him that the proposal to close the line was put in the usual way to the Area Transport Users Consultative Committee and that their recommendation in favour of closure went to and was supported by the Central Transport Consultative Committee. When considering applications to close lines and withdraw services the consultative committees do go into the question of alternative bus services. However, I will naturally bring my right honourable friend's attention to what the noble Earl has said about the special position.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEI thank the noble Earl very much.
§ LORD WISEMy Lords, might I, from this side, add a further voice from Norfolk, and remind the noble Earl that in his reply he referred to two level crossings in King's Lynn but not to the level crossing which has been the bone of contention for the last 50 years. the level crossing at Tennyson Avenue? That level crossing holds up all the traffic, North and South, which comes through Lynn, and it should be greatly improved or altered. The by-pass will help the traffic which goes North and South, but might I ask the noble Earl whether he is aware that unless the Tennyson Avenue crossing is improved there is no remedy at all for the terrible troubles which the interior traffic in King's Lynn xperiences?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I am not personally aware of that particular situation, because, unfortunately, it is some years since I have been to King's Lynn. However, I will certainly 278 look into the matter and will write to the noble Earl as soon as I find out what the situation is.