Road Transport Topics
Page 28
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In Parliament
By Our Special Parliamentary Carrespondent
PROGRESS IN FREEING TOLL BRIDGES.
REPLYING in the House of Commons last week to Mr. Duckworth, who asked why the toll bridges on the trunk roads under the direct control of the Ministry of Transport had not been freed, Mr. Burgin stated that the only toll bridge under his direct control was that across the Menai Straits. This bridge as originally built, was being maintained, and was about to be reconstructed at the cost of the taxpayer. The tolls levied were an offset to the charges falling upon the Exchequer in respect of the bridge.
The Conway Bridge was vested in Commissioners, who were the members of the Town Council for the time being. Discussions were taking place between his Department and the Commissioners as to the provision of a new bridge.
The Selby Bridge was vested in a private company. The possible freeing of this bridge from tolls could not be dissociated from the proposed Selby By-pass, for which alternative lines were now being surveyed. He added , that five toll roads and toll bridges bad beenfreed during the past two years.
B30 21 MILLION COPIES OF HIGHWAY CODE.
I T was stated by the Minister that, since the publication of the Highway Code, over 21,000,000 copies had been distributed.
NO FLY-OVER BRIDGE FOR BRISTOL.
I NFORMATION was sought by Cap
tain Strickland, regarding the building of a fly-over bridge in the City of Bristol for the relief of 'traffic congestion. Mr. Burgin assumed that the reference was to the proposal to construct a fly-over bridge at the southern end of the new city centre. If so, he was unable to dissent from the opinion of the City Council that the relatively steep gradients and other difficulties involved made the suggestion impracticable. CHALLENGE TO JUDICIAL IMPARTIALITY.
UPON the suggestion by Mr. Leach that the Home Secretary should consider introducing legislation to forbid motoring magistrates or judges from trying cases of serious motoring offences, Sir Samuel Hoare said he was unable to accept the suggestion that a magistrate, who had 'practical experieece of driving a .motor vehicle, should be debarred from adjudicating in cases of the kind referred to.
EXISTING PARKING CONTROL ADEQUATE.
JT was suggested by Mr. Crowder that legislation should be introduced, giving power to local authorities to schedule residential streets as being unfit for parking either trade vehicles or vehicles belonging to strangers who were not resident in the streets ,concerned. Mr. Burgin said he thought that the powers available under the existing law, for the restriction or prohibition of parking, were adequate.
EARLY REPORT ON GUARD RAILS ANTICIPATED.
THE Minister said he hoped to receive, at an early date, the report of the Transport Advisory Council on the subject of the provision of guard rails between the front and rear wheels of mothr lorries.