[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—Have the difficulties
attendant upon the construction of the special motor roads suggested by Mr. Lloyd George's Bill been fully considered ? The Bill provides (S. 7, c. 2) that the new Road Boards "may," at crossings, carry an existing highway over a motor road, or vice-versd. And by S. 7, c. 1 (b), "no person shall be entitled to make any road or path, communicating with a motor road, without the consent of, and except upon such terms and conditions as may be imposed by, the Road Board." No doubt there are localities where few highways now exist, and where the con- struction of motor roads may be a fairly simple matter. But they would be more useful in fairly populous places, where crossings are numerous. In the Home Counties there would probably be one or two, or more, per mile. If each such crossing is to entail a bridge, the cost will be very large. If the Board omit the bridge, where is the safety ? Again, as to "communications." It has been hinted that fees payable by adjoining residents—Dukes, no doubt—will bring in good round sums, and so lessen the net expense of road-making. But it is not every cross-road that leads to a private house. Most motorists using the motor roads will want to turn off somewhere, if only to feed ; some of them will be country doctors, "angels of mercy," anxious to reach poor cottages. It is obvious that there must be communications, and plenty
of them, with ordinary existing highways. Who is to guard these danger-spots, which will sometimes be virtually " crossings "? And who is to pay for these non-ducal com- munications P It is to be feared that it will be the humble ratepayer, not the motor voter. The new Road Boards will not find that they have much money to spare, even if they borrow with one hand and lend to highway authorities with the other, under S. 8, c. I. As for the El Dorado strip of land on each side of motor roads, which some people seem to think will eagerly be sought after as eligible building sites, time will show. Let us hope for the best ; meanwhile some others of us will know what to avoid.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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