HL Deb 23 June 1964 vol 259 cc90-1

2.50 p.m.

LORD WISE

My Lords, I beg leave 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 state the approximate cost of the necessary widening and other improvements required to make the roads in the areas of Walsingham and Mitford and Launditch Rural District Councils respectively suitable and safe or future heavy road transport; and whether this necessary work will be commenced and carried out before the railways in these areas are closed completely.]

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, improvements to the roads in this area have recently been completed by the Norfolk County Council at an estimated cost of £50,000. When the widening at East Barsham which is now in progress has been completed, the roads generally will be adequate for the traffic they will have to carry. These works would have been necessary whether or not the Dereham—Wells line were closed.

LORD WISE

While thanking the noble Lord for that particular Answer, may I ask him whether he is aware that the roads around the line to be closed, from Wells to East Dereham, are totally inadequate for heavy traffic; that the throwing of heavy traffic on to those roads, which are all class "B" roads and sometimes not fifteen feet across, is liable to make them dangerous; and that we shall have more accidents in that particular area than we are getting at present?

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I was aware of the state of the roads around there, which is what prompted the words I used in my Answer and the information which I gave to the noble Lord. The narrow places he has in mind have been and are being widened out, and the assessment is that when the line closes the roads will be adequate for the extra traffic which will be put upon them.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, does that mean that the railway line will not be closed until the road widening schemes to which the noble Lord has referred are completed?

LORD CHESHAM

Without calculating out the date, I understand that the widening scheme that I mentioned is due to be completed in the fairly near future.