§ MR. MATHER (Lancashire, S.E., Gorton)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to an account, published in The Altrincham and Bowden Guardian of the 6th December, of an alarming accident which occurred at the level crossing of the railway which passes through the populous town of Altrincham, a suburb of Manchester, when a locomotive engine dashed through the crossing gates, which were open for public traffic across the line at the time, imperilling the lives of many persons and injuring one of them; and whether, in view of the statement in the newspaper, supported by other evidence, that this level crossing is a constant source of inconvenience and of frequent peril to the inhabitants of Altrincham, he will use the influence of the Board of Trade to cause the Railway Company to take immediate steps to bridge the line, or adopt such measures as shall permanently serve the convenience and secure the safety of the traffic of the town across the railway?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have communicated with the Manchester South Junction and Altrincham Railway Company with regard to this accident. The company state that the gates at the level crossing were broken by being run into by a light engine, the driver of which whilst shunting having, unfortunately, disregarded the signals, which were at danger. The company also state that this is the first occasion for the last 20 years and upwards of any person being injured at this crossing, at which there is a convenient footbridge for passengers, though what were the circumstances which prevented Mrs. Ashmore from using it at the time are not known. As regards this particular level crossing which was sanctioned so far back as 1845, I have ordered an Inspector to examine and report upon it at once.