§ 109. Sir P. Agnewasked the Minister of Transport whether he has taken note of the fact that, although the owner of the Strensham estate has given permission for his Department's agents to enter upon his land for the purpose solely of pegging out the run for the Ross Spur road extension and roundabout junction with the Birmingham-Bristol motorway as at present proposed, he has not yet been willing to sign a contract for the sale of the land; what discussions he is having in this matter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MarplesPermission to enter to construct the motorway which was given by the owner of the Strensham estate in March, 1959, has recently been withdrawn. I am therefore considering whether the compulsory purchase procedure should be followed.
§ 110. Sir P. Agnewasked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to arrange for the preservation of the amenities of Bredon village and National Trust Tithe Barn and their environs, by bringing the southward run of the Birmingham-Bristol motorway past Strensham and Twyning by a more westerly route, re-siting accordingly the proposed roundabout junction with the Ross Spur road and shortening that road by three-quarters of a mile with substantial saving to the public purse.
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§ Mr. MarplesThe site of the junction of the Bristol-Birmingham and Ross Spur motorway at Strensham was fixed by statutory Order after a public inquiry. No objections were raised on amenity grounds. Tenders for construction of the motorway northwards from Strensham have already been received. Any alteration at this very late stage would involve considerable delay and expense. I have already asked the consulting engineers to consider whether a more westerly route is feasible south of the Strensham junction.