THE long-running saga over the development of the proposed A505 Royston bypass took another turn. The Government s then Environment Secretary Peter Shore said a decision on the project would come from Herts County Council and Whitehall would not be involv

THE long-running saga over the development of the proposed A505 Royston bypass took another turn. The Government's then Environment Secretary Peter Shore said a decision on the project would come from Herts County Council and Whitehall would not be involved.

However, cash for such schemes was provided in a grant from the Government to the county council.

But Mr Shore did point out that the county council had seen the provision of a Royston bypass as a "low priority".

In a letter, Royston's then MP Ian Stewart was told: "Money for new road construction will continue to be scarce for some years to come, and the prospects for this particular project must depend on the view taken by the county council of its priority in difficult economic circumstances.

Dr Nigel Pratt, who was then chairman of the Royston Bypass Action Committee, said: "I believe it is important that central Government should be aware of the importance attached to this project."

- North Herts District Council's highways and transport committee decided NOT to introduce car parking charges. Although car parks were costing ratepayers £78,000 a year it was decided that the introduction of charging would be detrimental.

- Plans were under way for celebrations of the Queen's Silver Jubilee which were likely to include a historic pageant and carnival procession.

- From The Crow, Friday, August 6, 1976