§ Mr. Mappasked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will arrange for a preliminary technical study to ascertain whether the route of the Bridgewater canal south of Stretford into Cheshire, now very lightly used for carrying purposes, can be adapted to road requirements and to link up with the new proposed motorway north of Knutsford;
(2) if he will arrange for a preliminary technical study to ascertain whether the routes, wholly or in part, of the non-carrying British waterways canals radiating north, east and south-east of Manchester can be adapted to the future road requirements of the area.
§ Mr. MarplesIn general canal routes are not suitable for roads because they are too narrow and circuitous. Proposals for a comprehensive programme of road improvements for the South East Lancashire and North East Cheshire conurbation are being drawn up jointly by the local highway authorities concerned. I hope to receive their recommendations within a few months. If there were any canal routes in the area suitable for adaptation as roads I should expect them to take account of the possibilities. In the meantime I do not think it would be appropriate or worth while for me to arrange the studies suggested.