MAJOR ALLENasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether it is the fact that the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Mellor, in their judgment of the 19th November last, "Be Bristol and Somerset and the Somerset and Dorset Railway Companies," ruled that the law is powerless to protect the public from the danger and nuisance at Radstock, where these competing lines obstruct the turnpike road in the middle of the town with two level crossings within sixty feet of one another; and, whether he can see his way to remedying the grievance complained of?
THE ATTORNEY GENERALSir, as I appeared for the Board of Trade in the case to which allusion is made in the Question of the hon. and gallant Member, I have been requested by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to reply on his behalf. The application which was made to the Queen's Bench Division of the Supreme Court, and with reference to which the Lord Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Mellor gave judgment on the 19th of November last, was an application under the Railway Clauses Act, 1863, Section 7, for a mandamus to oblige the Bristol and Somerset and the Somerset and Dorset Railway Companies—whose lines cross the turnpike road in the town of Rad-stock at a very short distance from each other on the level—to make a bridge for the purpose of carrying the turnpike road over their lines. It was clear from the nature of the case that a bridge over 726 one of the lines of railway would be of no service—indeed, could not be made; and in order that a sufficient viaduct should be constructed, it was essential that both Companies should join in the work. It appeared, however, that the Bristol and North Somerset Company was absolutely without funds and practically defunct, having made over its undertaking to the Great Western Company in perpetuity, and that if a mandamus were issued against the Bristol and Somerset Company it could not be enforced. The Court, therefore, decided, in the exercise of its discretion, to refuse the application altogether. With respect to the Great Western Company, the advisability of applying for a mandamus against them was considered by the legal advisers of the Board of Trade; but these gentlemen came to the conclusion that there was no obligation upon that Company to make or join in making the necessary works. I fear there is no remedy for the grievance complained of unless the Legislature be resorted to. It is to be regretted that the Railway Companies originally induced Parliament to sanction the crossing of a highway on the level by two lines of railway placed so near to each other as to create danger.