§ Sir P. Dawsonasked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to expedite 2226W preparations for carrying out the more urgent schemes of road construction in London suggested in the report of Sir Charles Bressey, he will summon a conference of the local authorities concerned, as was done in connection with the London arterial road programme under which the principal road improvements in Greater London have been carried out since the Great War?
§ Mr. BurginI have already communicated with the local authorities concerned and expressed the hope that they will be able to come to an early decision as to those schemes which could be put in hand in the near future and as to the safeguarding of the lines of other projects on which actual constructional work may have to be postponed for the time being. While I will keep my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind, he will realise that future procedure is necessarily dependent on the nature of the replies I receive.
§ Sir P. Dawsonasked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will state the length of the south circular road suggested in the report of Sir Charles Bressey on the highway survey of Greater London; what length, if any, of the road has already been completed; and what progress is being made towards carrying out the remainder of the scheme;
(2) whether he will state the names of the local authorities which are being asked to contribute towards the construction of the south circular road suggested in the report on London highway development recently made by Sir Charles Bressey; and whether agreement has been reached with any of those local authorities as to the proportion of the contribution by the Road Fund and the proportion to be contributed by local authorities?
§ Mr. BurginThe south circular road as recommended by Sir Charles Bressey is approximately 15 miles long. A length of about two miles between Rochester Way and Burnt Ash Hill has been completed. The London County Council are seeking powers in the present Session to construct the length of approximately half a mile between Wandsworth Bridge and Trinity Road as part of the Wandsworth Bridge scheme, which, if Parliament give the necessary powers, will receive a grant of 60 per cent. The remaining sections will consist for the 2227W most part of the realignment and widening of existing roads, and these are now the subject of discussion between my Department and the London County Council.