§ 63. Mr. Swinglerasked the Minister of Transport if he will state the amount of the increase in cost of the scheme for constructing dual carriageway on the central area by-pass section of the A.34 in Newcastle-under-Lyme; what are the reasons for this increase; and if he will now reconsider the decision to delay the scheme.
§ Mr. GalbraithWhen it was included in the programme, this scheme was estimated to cost £235,000. It is now estimated to cost about £800,000 for just over three-quarters of a mile of roadworks. The increase is thus over 200 per cent. Initial estimates for road schemes are necessarily made at a time when the precise nature of difficulties which may arise is hidden. In this case these arose from unexpectedly costly movements of mains and sewers and the provision of pedestrian subways at four points.
After a careful examination it has been decided that, despite its considerable rise in price, the scheme should be carried out.