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Proposed Poole Bridge

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention, and I would add one more point to it: we are also surrounded by heathland, so the constraints on building are very tight indeed. We have some of the finest dry heathland in the country—most of it is in my constituency. There is also the 400-metre rule, of course. In terms of both housing and regeneration, this site is absolutely vital, and the fact that it is brownfield—that it needs attention—adds to its importance. I wish to stress that the regeneration aspect is probably the most important in ensuring that we secure this grant. It is important to realise that this project has the wholehearted support of the entire business community and of 99.9999 per cent. of the residents—there are always some who might not like the design and other such things. The project has a very high level of support; all the council's key partners are working together on it—everybody is pulling together. The hon. Gentleman alluded to the fact that the transport aspect is important to me, and that is because of the situation in Blandford road. When the bridge is closed or when there is a lot of congestion in town because of the lifting of the bridge, the traffic turns left through a very narrow road that, for the most part, has Victorian-type houses along it—in other words, they are close to the road. The traffic goes along Blandford road, which runs up from the port, through Hamworthy and into Upton. I have yet another meeting with the county council on Friday, when I shall discuss with councillors and officers what we can do to try to improve the quality of life for people who live in Blandford road. Some of the houses are so close to the road that as the lorries thunder along the windows literally shake, and life becomes almost intolerable for people when any potholes appear. So this project is important for the quality of life of residents and for the future of the town. In today's economic climate, when my party very much agrees with the Government's view on the importance of not closing investment down at this critical point, this important project should go ahead because it will sustain the economy in Poole and the south-west, and it will have even wider implications. It should be just the sort of project that we are looking for—one that will create jobs. We talk about the construction industry in our area, which is suffering greatly. The project would provide an immediate stimulus, and traditionally the construction industry has always led the way out of depression. This project, which would serve a large part of the country, would qualify in those terms alone. I hope that the Minister will take on board the urgent need to get this decision. I have seen so many delays over the years and I need to be able to go back to Poole feeling that we have got the project, that it is going to happen and that the next time we say it is going to be completed in such and such a year it will be completed.