68 and 69. Mr. Gresham Cookeasked the Minister of Transport (1) what consideration he is giving to relieving the pressure on the heavily-used and narrow road A.25 between Guildford and Seven-oaks so as to avoid congestion through towns and villages on that route;
(2) when he will give a decision on the proposal to build a south orbital road round the South of London to allow freedom of movement for east-west traffic between Kent and Surrey and vice versa.
§ Mr. MarplesI have explained my present plans for the South Orbital Road to the Kent and Surrey County Councils 71W On the basis of these plans, and also of the results of their recent traffic survey, I have asked the councils for their proposals for the improvement of the A.25 road for which they are the highway authorities.
I cannot say definitely when the first sections of the South Orbital Road will be included in my road programme but I have told the two councils that they can assume for planning purposes that construction will begin in 1968–69.