§ LORD SORENSENMy 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 Majesty's Government whether it is now certain that road reconstruction and development proceeding in the vicinity of the Waterworks, Walthamstow, will be completed by spring of this year; and what is the estimated volume of traffic that will then flow unimpeded both in East—West directions and through Epping Forest.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the present roadworks are expected to be completed in April. The new East—West road across forest land was fully opened to traffic in November last and is currently carrying an average two-way of about 1,500 vehicles per hour. The two-way flow on Wood-ford New Road near the junction is about 1,200 vehicles per hour.
§ LORD SORENSENMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, but I did not quite hear whether he stated the date of the completion of the road construction. May I ask the noble Lord whether cattle grids and other means of impeding cattle from getting on the roads and diverting towards Whipps Cross are expected to be effective?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I said that the first stage of the road construction will be completed in April. I take the point about the cattle, and I will see that the Department have a look at it.