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Road Plans May be Expanded

12th June 1959, Page 34
12th June 1959
Page 34
Page 34, 12th June 1959 — Road Plans May be Expanded
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Keywords : Ted Nugent

INDICATIONS that the pace of road'. making may be quickened in the future emerged from a series of answers given in the House of Commons last week by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Harold Watkinson, and his Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. G. R. H. Nugent.

"No Minister of Transport," said Mr. Watkinson, replying to Capt. R. A. Pilkington (Cons., Poole), "would ever be satisfied with the size of the road programme, but I think the House recognizes that we have made a very good start after losing many wasted years after the war, which we have to make up.

"I. hope that we shall soon be in a position at least to have the facilities, machinery and plant ready for a still further expansion."

Mr. Nugent told Mr. Jo Grimond that the Ministry had been much engaged in revising the basis of future road capacities in the light of the increasing number of vehicles. The previous basis by which future demands upon the highway system was calculated was now inapplicable and would clearly yield underestimates.

"We are now in process of revising that to something which I suspect will be a great deal higher, but I am not able to give precise details," said Mr. Nugent.

A total of 7,903,638 vehicles, including 1,268,498 goods vehicles, was licensed in September last. The corresponding figures for 1938 were 3,093,884 and 494,866 respectively, whilst the 1949 statistics were 4,112,903 and 843,723. On the assumption that these rates of increase would continue, there would be about 12+m. vehicles, including 1.8m. goods vehicles, in 1969.

Too Many Lorries ?

Mr. Ernest Davies wondered if all these goods vehicles were wanted when railway capacity was underemployed. Mr. Nugent pointed out that the railways were modernizing their services and it would be extremely difficult to say where the balance between road and rail would settle in 12 years.

Mr. Watkinson made several further statements. Within a week or two he was going to circulate draft regulations for the compulsory testing of vehicles. He hoped to announce the membership of the committee to investigate rural transport in the next few weeksHe endorsed the campaign by the Traders' Road Transport Association to minimize the use of kerb space.


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