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Roads for prosperity

30th January 1970
Page 16
Page 16, 30th January 1970 — Roads for prosperity
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Baron Rootes, Chesham

• Some of industry's biggest guns last week fired an opening broadside at "the critical effect on the British economy brought about by the lack of planning and a coherent policy for road traffic needs in the future".

At a Press meeting in the Dorchester Hotel, presided over by Lord Redmayne, the British Industry Roads Campaign (Slogan "Roads for Prosperity") announced its formation and its determination "to show clearly to the Government of the day . . . that the cost efficiency of British industry depends substantially on good roads, that it is economically and socially essential to build the new roads required to meet the needs of present and future traffic, that it is physically possible to build these roads, and that the cost can and must be met".

Lord Redmayne, who is chairman of the Campaign's board of nearly a score of trustees "drawn from many of the interests most directly aware of Britain's inadequate roads policy", put forward the aims and plans of the newly formed organization. He told reporters that the duties of the trustees, most of whom were present, would be to assist in raising from industry the funds that the campaign would require and to ensure wise spending. "In pursuing our Campaign we shall use whatever tools come most readily to our hands." The British Roads Federation would be their agents and the Roads Campaign Council would be one of the bodies with which they expected to co-operate fully.

Quoting figures from the Campaign's booklet Financial Implications of the British Road Problem, showing how this country lagged behind the Continent, the chairman concluded by saying that in a democracy too often some project, large or small, designed to be of general benefit to the community, found itself neutralized by local or sectional opposition. If the people wanted to prosper they must inform themselves, and express themselves as actively in favour of an important issue as those who opposed it. Only thus was real progress possible. "And in respect of the need for roads," he said, "this campaign will see to it that the people do know the facts, and do express themselves."

Lord Redmayne, BIRC chairman, is a director of the Harrods Group of the House of Fraser, and of Boots Pure Drug Co. Ltd. The Trustees are: Sir Peter Allen (ICI Ltd.), Raymond P, Brookes (Guest Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd.), Lord Chesham (RAC), Sir Andrew Crichton (Overseas Containers Ltd.), Hugh R. Featherstone (PTA), Sir Alexander Glenn (H. Clarkson and Co. Ltd.), Thomas IL Grieve (Shell-Mex and BP Ltd.), Julian S. Hodge (Hodge Group Ltd), Paul K. Jennens (!PC Business Press Ltd.), Sir Norman Kipping (lately director-general, Federation of British Industry), Lord • Netherthorpe (Fisons Ltd.), Sir Richard Powell (director-general, Institute of Directors), Montague I. Prichard (Perkins Engines Group Ltd.), Lord Rootes (Rootes Motors Ltd.), Alexander Ross (UDT Ltd.), A. T. B. Shand (Lehane, Mackenzie and Shand Ltd.), Jack A. Williams (MAA), Sir Reginald Wilson (NFC).

Sir George Middleton (chairman, Michael Rice (Overseas) Ltd.) is chief executive of the BIRC whose temporary address is 6 Aldford Street, London, W I •


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