Roads Starved for 14 Years
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BY OUR PARLIAMENTARY CORRESPONDENT.
THE Minister said that the Govern' ment had reviewed the whole
question of the need for further road expenditure and pointed out that the severe economies in capital investment which they and their predecessors had been compelled to impose had meant that this country's highways had been starved of development for 14 years. At the same time, there had been a substantial increase in traffic, particularly heavy goods traffic. An extended programme of major improvements could not be delayed without serious damage to the country's economy.
The Government had decided that,
subject to the annual approval of estimates by Parliament, there should be a substantial increase in road expenditure. "We contemplate that annual payments from the Road Fund for this purpose should rise from their present level of about £5m. a year to £14m.£15m. in 1957-58 and should continue at that level for a period of years," he said.
/19m. Next Year Physical work in the first two years would be limited and the total expenditure would be relatively small, rising to nearly £12m. in 1956-57. It was intended to approve in the next financial year schemes representing a total expenditure, over the whole period of their execution of more than El9m. Total Exchequer expenditure on schemes to be authorized in the next three financial years would be about £50m.
Of the schemes approved for 1954-55, involving over £19m., some £41m. would fall to Scotland, including £3m. for the Whiteinch-Linthouse tunnel in Glasgow and £1m. for the first part of the Glasgow-Stirling road improvement, to be followed in 1955-56 by the authorization of the second part costing another Elm. It was proposed to maintam and, if possible, increase the rate of expenditure on roads in the Highlands.
Schemes to be undertaken in England included the Cromwell Road extension (in West London); Wilderspool level crossing, Warrington—the provision of a bridge; the first part of the East B8 Retford by-pass; rebuilding and widening Doncaster Mill bridge; replacement of the temporary Cavendish bridge; a Markyate by-pass; the provision of three lengths of dual carriageway on the Stafford-Stoke road; duplication of carriageways on Western Avenue (Middx.); a Loughton by-pass (Bucks); and the completion of the Ashford by-pass (Kent).
Many Smaller Schemes
There would be many smaller schemes amounting to several million pounds in the first three years. The Minister said that he would have particular regard to black spots. He would also consider the need to complete schemes already started where a large amount of capital investment was lying idle.
Among the larger schemes to be introduced in later years were the completion of the Dartford-Purfleet tunnel, involving £9m. to be committed in 1955-56, the Preston by-pass, entailing £2m. in 1956-57, and the Lancaster by-pass (£2m. in 1957-58).
The Minister hoped to include a
scheme for the reconstruction of the Conway bridge in next year's programme.
Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, Minister for Welsh Affairs, amplified Mr. LennoxBoyd's statement by saying that roads in Wales and those connecting the Principality with the Midlands would be improved. There would be better access to Swansea docks from the western end of the Neath bridge. A new road from this bridge to the Llanelly road to provide better communications between Margam and Port Talbot would be built.
A Port Talbot by-pass would be constructed. It was proposed to authorize substantial improvements to the Heads of the Valleys road between Hirwaun and Abergavenny. Ross would be bypassed and there would be a new Ross spur road to avoid 'the Malvern Hills and link with the A38 and, eventually, the proposed motorway to the Midlands.
Severn Bridge Delayed He regretted that the Severn bridge scheme had to be put off until "a long way ahead."
The Minister of Transport made a similar observation with regard to the Forth road bridge. The suggestion to incorporate a road bridge in the structure of the present railway bridge was being investigated. The British Transport Commission could proceed immediately with improvements to the ferry service.
Later, Mr. Lennox-Boyd circulated details of other major works, each to cost over £100,000 for authorization during the next three years. These included:— Widening Aintree-Liverpool road; abolition of the level-crossing at Allerton; a carriageway on Borrowash by-pass; a new section on the Bridgwater relief road to avoid the town centre; completion of duplicate carriageways on East HamBarking by•pass; a new bridge at Tewkesbury; two new roads at Leven Bridges; rebuilding Newbury Park station bridge; improving Oxford-Islip turn; improving A9 in Perthshire; a new bridge at Sinderby; widening Stormy Down-Read/ (Glamorgan) road; improving A48 between Tabernacle Chapel and Discoed Arches; a new bridge at Tilbury and better access to the docks; and a Whitchurch (Glamorgan) by-pass.