§ LORD JACQUESMy 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 they will reconsider their decision to construct the short relief road rather than the by-pass (M.27) at Ems-worth, Hants, since the former is so strongly opposed by the U.D.C. and the residents, and the latter will be required in any case.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT (LORD SANDFORD)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has received a number of further representations on this case which he is still considering; but it would be wrong for me to raise any hope that he will in the event think it right to go back on the decisions already taken.
§ LORD JACQUESMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. Would he use his best influence to get his right honourable friend to take into account that this relief road, which would pass through the heart of the town and which involves, among other things, the siting of a roundabout in the grounds of the local hospital, is the kind of road which ought not to be built until it is proved to be essential; and that this cannot be done until the M.27 by-pass has been constructed and is in use?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I can give an assurance to the noble Lord that my right honourable friend will consider all the representations that have been made and are being made to him. I 1076 would point out that these two roads are designed to serve different purposes.
§ LORD JACQUESMy Lords, would the Minister also ask his right honourable friend to visit the town, see the route of the road for himself and discuss the matter with the local people?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, I am not sure that that will be necessary. I have been told that my right honourable friends have already visited the town in connection with the proposal and with the greatest care have studied the whole matter on the ground.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, would not my noble friend agree that in the interests of traffic planning it is not desirable or necessary to divide a town by a piece of road which has a limited use over a very short period of time?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, the fact of the matter is that the A.27 already divides Emsworth into two. These proposals are designed to mitigate that effect.
§ LORD JACQUESMy Lords, will the Minister bear in mind that when the M.27 at that point is constructed, then the A.27 will cease to divide the town in two? Why start to divide it again?
§ LORD SANDFORDMy Lords, because, as I have said, these two roads, the inner relief road and the M.27 bypass, are designed to serve two purposes. It is the view of my right honourable friend that one road will not serve the purpose of the two.
§ LORD MAYBRAY-KINGMy Lords, will the noble Lord ask his right honourable friend to remember that it is not inconceivable in this case that the U.D.C. and the citizens of Emsworth know more than the planners?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords; I have given an assurance that my right honourable friend is still considering representations that have been made. On the other hand, we have the fact that the county council, the planning authority, share the views of the Department.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, am I right in thinking that the decision of the inspector at the inquiry was the opposite of 1077 what Her Majesty's Government have now decided?
§ LORD SANDFORDYes, my Lords, that is correct.