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• ROAD TRANSPORT MATTERS IN PARLIAMENT.
Page 120
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The Glencoe Road Controversy. Traffic-control Signalling Systems, London's Roundabouts and One-way Streets. The Inspection of Petrol Pumps. Compulsory Third-party Insurance.
By Our Special Parliamentary Correspondent.
FOLLOWING upon the discussions in the Press as to the merits of the proposed new road through Glencoe, Sir Basil Pete asked the Minister of Transport whether the Department was definitely committed to the construction of the new road at a cost Of £500,000 and whether, in view of the heavy burden of the rates on agriculture and industry, he would consider the advisability of expending only the comparatively small sum required for widening and surfacing the existing road and devoting the remainder for the maintenance and improvement of rural roads in other parts of Great. Britain. 'Colonel Ashley said he had allocated £500,000 towards the remodelling by the Argyllshire County Council of the Tyndrum-Ballachulish route, which formed the direct Means of communication from Glasgow to the Western Highlands. The. route in question was 30miles in length, including the section through the Pees of Glencoe, and the road as recenetructed would in no place exceed 18 ft. in width. It was a mistake to suppose that a small sum would suffice to widen and surface the existing road, which was steep, narrow, tortuous, weak and in places dangerous, and the amount he had allocated was only that shown to be required ae a result of careful survey for adapting the road to the traffic which was likely to come upon it.
I hear that bus proPriethre in Inverness-shire are very eloquent with regard to the provision of bridges on the Glencoe route, which will take a load of 20 tons, whereae on two or three bridges over the Caledonian Canal on the main road between Fort William and Inverness the maximum load is two tons, through running being, consequently, interfered with.
It is understood that negotiations are in progress between the Ministry of Transport and the Argyllshire road authorities with regard to a proposed modification of the plans for the Glencoe Road, in order to meet some of the objections urged against the scheme.
The Lea Valley Viaduct.
Minister of Transport givesthe cost of the _I_ pylons and similar architectural features on the Lea Valley Viaduct on the North London circular arterial road as about £6,000.
Coloured Lights on Roadways.
IR IIA_RRY BRITT--kIN suggested that the Minister lelof Transport, in view of the successful experiments and practice on the Continent and. in the United States,
should consider making 'use of coloured lights in the main streets of London and other large cities for the regulation of traffic. Colonel Ashley. stated that the use of coloured lights for the control of traffic in the provinces was entirely a matter for the local and highway authorities. So far as London was concerned, the London Traffic Advisory Committee, the Commissioner of Police, and officers of his own Department kept in the closest touch with every kind of experiment of this character. The layout of the streets and the conditions of traffic in London, however, were exceptional, and systems that might be found useful elsewhere would not necessarily be desirable, or even workable, there. An experiment with coloured lights was being conducted in Piccadilly, and if and when he was satisfied that further experiments on these lines were desirable he would endeavour to arrange for them to be carried out.
Attention being called by Colonel Day to the small lighted obelisks in the centre of, busy cross-roads or streets in Continental citiese the Minister of Transport F.26 observed that lighted erections somewhat similar had been placed at road junctions on some of the new arterial roads. If they proved their usefulness in the conditions of traffic prevailing in the London area they would, no doubt, be added to
Visibility of Police Constables.
WHITE gauntlets, it is officially stated, have been issued to all constables engaged on traffic duties throughout the Metropolitan Police district. In addition, traffic coats with half white sleeves (from the elbow downwards) are being provided with all possible expedition to the officers in question for use during wet weather.
Roundabout and One-way Traffic.
IT is officially stated that the roundabout and oneway systems of traffic have now been adopted in 22 places in London and that revised methods of working traffic will be put into operation experimentally at about ten additional places in the course of the next few months.
Bridges on Edinburgh-Glasgow Road.
TT was expected that tenders would be accepted last week for work on the bridges required to be made on the new Glasgow to Edinburgh road, commencing near Alexandra Park, Glasgow, and that work would begin immediately.
Inspection of Petrol Pumps.
rpHE President of the Board of Trade states that
regulatiops under the Weights and Measures Amendment Act, 1620, have not yet been made, but he expects shortly to be in a position -to publish the draft. Pending the final settlement of these regulations, in consultation with loealauthorities and others interested, patterns of petrol-measuring instruments have been sanctioned by the Board of Trade, and many local authorities are testing roadside petrol pumps by arrangement with the owners and makers.
Kingston By-pass Delays.
SM JOHN POWER wished to know what steps were being taken to prevent in future delays to the opening of new roads similar to those which retarded the opening of the Kingston by-pass road. . He 'was informed that the new arterial roads round London were put in hand as a means of affording immediate employment where it could be offered and without, in all cases, full 'opportunities of conducting preliminary negotiations, and it was not surprising that some delays had occurred. Special difficulties arose in connection with the Kingston by-pass, owing to the presence of an unusual number of large engineering structures.
Compulsory Third-party Insurance.
11"E question of compulsory insurance against third party risks by all owners of' mechanically propelled vehicles having been raised again, Colonel Ashley pointed out that a scheme of insurance applicable to . motor vehicles generally would involve great dill:16110es, but proposals with regard to owners of motor omnibuses and chars-h-bancs were Contained in the -draft Road Traffic Bill. Being asked when he hoped the Bill would become law, Colonel Ashley, amid laughter, re-. plied: "The hope still remains." The plea for compulsory insurance was supported by Mr..-WardlaW Milne.