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Bad Roads Make Britain's Traffic the Slowest in Europe

19th June 1953, Page 34
19th June 1953
Page 34
Page 34, 19th June 1953 — Bad Roads Make Britain's Traffic the Slowest in Europe
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

"ONLY by spending money to improve present roads and build new ones can the movement of traffic be improved. The fact stands out that Britain has.the slowest traffic in Europe. This means higher costs on goods both for the export and the home market."

This statement was made by Lord Sandhurst, chairman of the British Road Federation, in his speech at the annual general meeting last week. He went on to say that he could not understand how the Select Committee on Expenditure came to their conclusion that they had received no convincing evidence a the deterioration of the roads. "The evidence contained in the con mittee's report. which I read most meticulously, seemed to me to emphasize the opposite view," he observed.

"Apart from the view of those bodies and individuals directly concerned with roads, a Treasury official himself said that even they believed that they were working to a level of maintenance below the safety level, year in and year out, and they were convinced of that, 'not only by what the Ministry of Transport tell us, but by all the available evidence coming to us from other quarters. .

"The fact is that unless an asset is maintained and developed to meet current requirements it ceases to fulfil its purpose and rapidly becomes a liability," said Lord Sandhurst.

The vacillation which seemed to characterize the Government's attitude towards road transport progress was exemplified by the delay in the abolition of the 20 m.p.h. limit

Lord Sandhurst continued: ." Mr. Gurney Braithwaite, Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry. of Transport, said last week-end that safety on the

roads, in the last analysis, is not achieved by large capital expenditure, but by the exercise of intelligence, road knowledge and courtesy. Few will dispute the need for the last three elements, but expert-informed opinion certainly does not agree with his remarks on capital expenditure.

"Until more money is spent on road improvements, such as the removal of black spots and road development generally, there will be no significant impact on the present toll of human life. The Ministry of Transport's spokesman might satisfy the Treasury, but he will bring little comfort to the countless homes which arc bereaved day after day."

The root of the trouble was that no post war Government had a road policy. A new approach was required and the Government " must be prepared to act with imagination if the maximum efficiency is to be obtained from road transport in this new Elizabethan era," Lord Sandhurst added.

RED AND WHITE STRIKE

A CCORDING to Mr. E. J. Phillips, 1--X director and general manager of Red and White Services, Ltd., the company did not refuse to allow the staff to operate workmen's services on Coronation Day, when 500 men declined duty. The employees were told that they were expected to operate in accordance with the duty schedulesposted.

They were not offered time-and-ahalf rates of pay and a day off if they worked on Coronation Day. The arrangements for working on that day were the subject of an agreement by the National Council.


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