§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make ex gratia payments to all those individuals adversely affected by his abandonment of the Archway Road improvement scheme, including making sums of money available for some insulation of the houses and business premises which will no longer be aided by the original scheme.
§ Mr. William RodgersNo. Archway Road is only one of very many existing roads where noise levels exceed those which, if they resulted from an improvement scheme, would qualify property for sound insulation. As for the wider question of ex gratia payments, it is not unusual for a scheme for road improvement to be abandoned or substantially modified.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any proposals to compensate those who bought properties along the line of the Archway Road improvement scheme at prices reflecting anticipated improvement to the environment of those properties based upon ministerial decisions made prior to 13W the precipitate abandonment of the scheme.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have no such proposals but I intend to discuss with the local authorities concerned the improvement of environmental conditions along the Archway Road.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the disposal of properties acquired in connection with the Archway Road improvement scheme now abandoned by him; and if he will give first option for repurchase to those from whom his Department bought.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe properties acquired for the scheme will be retained until improvement of the environmental conditions along the road has been discussed with the local authorities concerned and appropriate action decided. If and when disposal takes place those properties affected by the draft CPO and purchased since its publication will be first offered to the former owners.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many properties have been acquired by his Department or are in course of acquisition in connection with the Archway Road improvement scheme, distinguishing between residential and commercial properties and giving the total costs involved.
§ Mr. William RodgersThirty-two residential and 25 commercial properties at a total cost of £379,757.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Transport what have been the costs incurred chargeable to public funds in respect of the Archway Road improvement scheme up to the date of the abandonment of the public inquiry announced on 21st March 1978.
§ Mr. William RodgersIt is too soon to say but I will make an estimate available when I can.
§ Mr. Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to mitigate the conditions of those living and working in the Archway Road now that he has abandoned the road improvement scheme upon which so many of them have been relying for many years.
14W
§ Mr. William RodgersI have already asked the local authorities concerned to discuss with my Department the environmental and traffic problems of the area and the means of improving conditions of those living and working there. It is too soon to say what proposals will emerge.