§ Sir R. Glynasked the Minister of Transport (1) what proportion of the cost of the new road in the county of Argyll, in the neighbourhood of the Rest and Be Thankful Hill, is being borne by the 3522W Road Fund and whether the county council of Argyll satisfied him that this work was of such essential importance as to justify either the cost or the delay in proceeding with the improvement of other roads;
(2) whether he will enquire into the reasons for the construction of a new road in the county of Argyll, which is being now carried out, along the eastern part of the Arrochar-Inverary road near the Rest and Be Thankful Hill; what is the cost of this work; how long will it take to complete; and whether the opinion of local residents was taken into account, in view of the urgent need to improve other roads in the district rather than duplicate a road on which considerable sums have been expended in recent years and which is satisfactory and capable of carrying all normal traffic?
§ Mr. BurginThis road, which carries relatively heavy traffic, forms the only approach to the southern part of the county of Argyll, and by reason of the steep gradients and sharp bends the section near the Rest and Be Thankful Hill is dangerous to traffic and in frosty weather is virtually impassable. In agreement with the county council a contract was let at the beginning of the year for the reconstruction of the road from Black Spout to Loin Bridge, involving a diversion near the Rest and Be Thankful Hill to afford a ruling gradient of 1 in 20. The contract price is £100,000, which will be borne wholly by the Road Fund, and the work should be completed within two years. The scheme is part of the Crofter Counties Programme which is designed to afford better communications.