§ 2.50 p.m.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords. I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majestys' Government whether they will hasten the widening or the re-routeing of the A.30; not only because of the very heavy traffic borne by this road in comparison to its width, but also because of the great inconvenience caused to the inhabitants of Staines and of the villages beyond Staines, particularly at weekends.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, this road runs from London to Penzance, but I assume my noble friend has principally in mind the section in Hampshire and Middlesex where the volume of traffic is very heavy. The Staines by-pass and the new bridge over the Thames are under construction, and the contractors 402 are pressing on with the work as quickly as the adverse weather conditions will permit. Beyond Staines several improvements to provide sections of 3-lane or dual carriageway road have been completed and preparation is far advanced on more. Much of the road beyond Staines has, however, been the subject of ribbon development and is not suitable for comprehensive improvement on the present alignment. Preliminary surveys are therefore in progress now for the construction of a motorway to replace A.30 for through traffic from Sunbury to a point west of Basingstoke.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his reply—I am sure it will give satisfaction to the inhabitants of Staines—I should like to ask the Minister whether he is aware that, at week-ends in particular, the towns beyond Staines are a veritable line of solid traffic in each direction for at least three hours, and that for inhabitants to try to cross the main road is not only a difficult but a lengthy business? Might I ask the Minister whether he would bring this to the notice of his right honourable friend, and whether the building of the new road which my noble friend has announced can be accelerated in any way to enable the lives of these people to be made a little easier?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, with the greatest respect to my noble friend, I do not think that I need draw my right honourable friend's attention to this matter, because we are well aware of the situation on the A.30 road, and it is for those reasons and the one I have already mentioned that the decision has been made to proceed with the motorway. At present the county councils are engaged on the preliminary surveys. The line may have to be altered because of the possibility of expanding Basingstoke, but another line has been suggested which is quite promising. In the circumstances, therefore, we think we are right, for the reasons my noble friend has mentioned, to carry on with what I might call relief improvements on the road.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, can my noble friend give any indication as to how long the survey of the portions to be realigned is likely to take?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, it is somewhat difficult to forecast such matters. I have already mentioned one major issue which may affect it; but I can assure my noble friend that, statutory processes and other such matters permitting, we will get on with it as fast as we are able.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I am sorry to press this point. I am not asking about the statutory inquiries and so on; I am asking how long the survey is likely to take.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, that I am not able to answer in a categorical fashion. I can only repeat once more that the surveys are presently being done. The other suggestions are also being investigated, but I cannot tie myself to a definite time which this will take.
§ LORD SWANSEAMy Lords, arising out of the noble Lord's original reply, may I ask whether he is aware that three-lane carriageways are extremely dangerous, as they produce great temptation to simultaneous overtaking in opposite directions?
§ LORD CHESHAMYes, my Lords, we are under no illusions as to three-lane carriageways. The point is that I have mentioned relief improvement, and it is obvious that, while improving the road as much as we must, it is not the right policy to spend a great deal of money on it, when there is so much else to do and when this road will be superseded by the motorway.