§ 71. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of congestion and overcrowding at the main post office in Newport which is causing increasing difficulties; what steps are being taken to rebuild these premises; and whether it is his intention to instal a new automatic telephone service at the same time.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingYes. Plans were prepared in 1946 for an extension of the Head Post Office building at Newport. The scheme was agreed to by the Corporation and was designed to relieve 55W present congestion and to provide for a new automatic exchange. Work on the new building is scheduled to begin in October, 1949, but unfortunately, within the last three months, the Corporation has made proposals for easing traffic conditions in the locality. Adoption of these new proposals might well wreck the Post Office scheme, but in any case would involve re-casting of the plans. I trust, therefore, that the Corporation will find it possible to adopt other means of solving this traffic problem so that work on the much-needed improvement of the town's postal and telephone services may proceed without further delay.