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Road Transport Topics in Parliament

10th February 1939
Page 56
Page 56, 10th February 1939 — Road Transport Topics in Parliament
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Traffic

TRAFFIC OUTGROWS ARTERIAL ROUTE.

IN the House of Commons, this week, the London-Southampton road came _under discussion. Mr. Craven-Ellis • suggested to the Minister of Transport that, in view of the much increased traffic it carried, reconstruction should be expedited.

According to the August, 1938, census, observations at 17 points showed that between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. there was an average of 168,681 vehicles, other than cycles, which compared with 149,947 in the same month, 1935. These figures represented an increase of 18,734, or 12.5 per cent. There were, however, fewer cyclists by . 3,011, or 7.9 per cent.

Mr. Burgin agreed that the matter was a relevant consideration in the priority of road repairs.

He added that in the Hampshire County and Winchester City areas, respectively, there bad keen in 1938 six deaths and iqa pergons injured,

,Between Basingstoke and Winchester tlIesurvty had been completed, and a general widening of the road to 120 ft., with dual carriageways, cycle tracks and footpaths was envisaged. He was, however, unable to say when the scheme would be put in hand.

MINISTER NOT DESTRUCTIVE.

THE obscurity of pedestrian-crossing beacons at night was criticized by Mr. Day, and a desire .expressed by the Minister to improve the street lighting so that beacons, crossings and pedestrians on them should be clearly visible to drivers.

Mr. Thorne questioned the value of beacons, pointing out that from time to time they got broken, with consequent expense to the authorities. To this, Mr., Burgin said that he did not think the time had come for him to do any destructive work. His proposals ought all to be constructive rather than the opposite.

Sir Joseph Nall drew attention to the inconspicuous positions of certain island refuges, which, owing to the lack of illumination, were a danger to traffic. TRAFFIC COMMISSIONERS' FAIRNESS QUERIED.

AQUESTION was asked by Mr. Parker, concerning an application of Gidea Park CoachtS, Ltd., to operate a service of express coaches to Margate and Ramsgate from Brentwood and Romford. Why was the application refused, he inquired, in view of the large and growing population in Rumford, and the fact that the nearest service to these sea-coast 'towns was ran from Ilford, some six miles avira,y.

In addition, he wished to know how it was that an application was subsequently granted to one of the objectors to the Giclea Park company's applitation for extra vehicle journeys. Mr. Burgin replied that he was not aware of the application referred to, adding that Parliament had entrusted the responsibility of considering applications for road service licences to the Traffic Commissioners and that he had no jurisdiction, unless an appeal was made by a party entitled to appeal under Section Si of the Road Traffir Act, 1930.


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