METROPOLIS TURNPIKE ROADS. (Hansard, 12 March 1830)

Mr. Byng
presented a Petition from several inhabitants of the hamlets and places adjoining Kensington, complaining of the New Tolls which had been levied on them under the New Act for Consolidating the Turnpike Trusts in the neighbourhood of the metropolis. By the new regulations a toll was levied on vehicles every time they passed; and as the short stages, with many descriptions of coal and market carts went through these gates several times a day, these new regulations had added considerably to the expenses. The toll had also been raised on other coaches, so as to increase very much the sums taken from all coach proprietors, reducing their profits very much. He should, on some future clay, move that the petition be referred to a committee, to inquire into the facts of the case, unless he learnt in the mean time, that the commissioners appointed to carry the Act into execution had given the petitioners relief.

Lord Lowther
said, that he had very little doubt but that there was some mistake on the subject. It had, however, been settled in a Committee of that House, after hearing much evidence on the subject from many different sorts of persons, that to levy a toll every time a vehicle passed through the gates, would be the 227 best for all parties, and the rate of the tolls was calculated on that principle. The toll on the short stages, of which the petitioners complained, if the stage made eight journies a day, did not amount to one halfpenny a mile, while on other roads, further from town, the rate would be nearly 3d., and would equal that sum were the old system of separate trusts now in existence in the neighbourhood of Kensington. Moreover, the whole charge according to weight, and stopping waggons and carts to weigh them, had been done away, and as in fact, the House had lately investigated this system, and had greatly improved it, he did not think that it would be easily induced again to enter upon such investigations.

§ Mr. E. Davenport
said, that the public was, undoubtedly, much indebted to the noble Lord for the trouble he had taken on the subject, but still, he must say, that the noble Lord had given no answer to the complaint made by his hon. friend, that tolls were taken on carts and coal-waggons every time they passed through the gates. A waggon which formerly paid 6d., and was then free for the whole day, would now have to pay 10s. if it went backwards and forwards ten times. For persons living in the neighbourhood of one of these tolls this was a great grievance, which, he trusted, the noble Lord would find out some means to remedy.

Lord Lowther
denied that such an increase as that stated by the hon. Member had actually taken place.

§ Mr. C. Calvert
said, that many of the regulations adopted by the commissioners, bore hard upon the public; wheels of Clinches paid a double toll, but if they were 65/16 inches, they paid only a single toll.

Mr. Frankland Lewis
said, the evasions were so skilful and numerous, that unless the regulations were very strictly enforced, as well as made with great discrimination, it would be impossible to levy any toll. The law said, that wheels of 6 inches in width should pay one toll, and wheels of 9 inches a less toll, because the narrow wheel does the more injury to the road. To escape the payment of the heavier toll, wheels were so made, that while they were 9 inches in breadth they only brought a surface of 3 or 4 inches into contact with the road, doing it an injury equal to a wheel of that width, and avoiding the friction of the greater surface. This was 228 an evasion of the Act of Parliament. The effect of the regulation proposed by his noble friend was, to levy the tolls in proportion to the real width of the wheels, and to levy them on vehicles every time they passed through a gate.