M.P.,Calls for Five, year Traffic Plans
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From our Political Correspondent
A DRASTIC shake-up of the Government's ideas for road building and traffic control is to be advocated in Parliament today by Mr. W. F. Deedes, Tory M.P. for Ashford, Kent, who fears that unless the Government applies the forward-planning principle much more decisively, vehicle production will be artificially strangled because our roads will be inadequate.
"The outcome could be so that one day we shall say that vehicles are too numerous and too fast for safety. and that we must curb production," he said this week. He believes this would be disastrous-to the manufacturing industry, which contributes vitally towards exports.
Mr. Deedes, who has been successful in a ballot to speak in private members' time today, has prepared a lengthy motion for debate. Just in case he has no time to present it, the Order Paper will declare his feelings which will then at least spur the thoughts—he hopes— of other Tories.
Now that the Government has accepted five-year planning in all public sectors, Mr. Deedes is urging that the forecast of traffic needs must be kept rolling for at least five years ahead. Principles should be laid down, and local authorities warned that the necessary permissions will not be forthcoming unless they are applied.
Mr. Marples, he believes, is not getting enough support in his enormous task.