§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a fatal accident at Barkerhouse Road Level Crossing, Nelson, on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, on Thursday, 13th July; whether previous fatal accidents have occurred at the same place; whether the Nelson Corporation have requested the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company to abolish these level crossings; whether the Board of Trade have made repeated representations to the same Company as to other level crossings without satisfactory or prompt action on the part of the Company; and what steps the Board of Trade will take to hasten the removal of this frequent source of danger on the lines of this Company?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. BURT, Morpeth)The answer to the first three paragraphs of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. The Board of Trade have again communicated with the Company, and learn that they have taken powers in the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Act of this Session to acquire land for footbridges at Barker House and Bowling Row Crossings. The Directors are of opinion, however, that one footbridge would be sufficient, and that the Corporation of Nelson should bear a portion of the cost. I hope that their negotiation with the Corporation will secure an equitable arrangement at an early date.
§ MR. CHANNINGMy hon. Friend has not answered the fourth and fifth paragraphs of the question. Is he aware that there have been repeated communications by his predecessors at the Board of Trade with the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, which have several distinctly dangerous level crossings on its line? Has that Company taken any steps to deal with the evil?
§ MR. BURTI am only able to say that the Board of Trade have been several times in communication with the Company and have pressed the matter as far as they can. I have been called on to answer the question at short notice, and cannot possibly say more at present.