§ Sir F. Markhamasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the many objections to the proposed Broughton, Buckinghamshire, by-pass, including those of local authorities; and whether he will defer proceeding with this relatively expensive scheme until further inquiries have been made.
§ Mr. MarplesI understand that the Newport Pagnell Rural District Council has suggested to the Buckinghamshire County Council, which is the highway authority, that a more modest scheme than the one proposed by the County Council, and the subject of a Government grant of £43,000 would be sufficient.
The view of the county council is that the by-pass is needed both to relieve Broughton of through traffic and to fit in with the councils plans for improving the road system in the neighbourhood so as to make A50 here an efficient traffic feeder for the motorway. I agree with the county council and I do not propose to suggest to it that the scheme be deferred.