§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that an enumeration has been made by officials of the Ramsbottom Local Board as to the number of persons and the number of trains passing over the level crossing in Bridge Street, Ramsbottom; and that it appears from the enumeration that on 30th September 8,948 persons and 181 trains and engines, and on 2nd October 5,653 persons and 146 trains and engines, passed over this level crossing; and whether, having regard to the serious danger thus disclosed, and to the failure of the Ramsbottom Board to get the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to do away with this level crossing, the Board of Trade will make further and more urgent representations to the Company that their duty is to remedy this state of things without further delay?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI have received a statement as to the number of persons and the number of trains passing over this level crossing. The Board have been in communication with the Company on the subject, and are informed that a footbridge has been erected to do away with the necessity of passengers crossing on the level; the wicket gates are controlled from the signal cabin, and the gates for vehicular traffic are interlocked 1371 with the signals. These improvements should afford a large measure of safety. General Hutchinson recommended that a subway should be made, and that the Local Board should pay a proportion of the expense, but they have declined to do so. The Board, therefore, have at present some difficulty in pressing the matter further.
§ MR. CHANNINGMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that repeated complaints have reached the Board of Trade from this part of the country? Has not the time arrived when the Board ought to acquire further powers in this matter?
§ MR. MUNDELLAWe have had no complaints recently. The whole question as to whether larger powers should be vested in the Board of Trade requires careful consideration.
§ MR. MADEN (Lancashire, Rossendale)Is it not the fact that although a footbridge is provided the Railway Company's servants allow the passengers to cross the line right in front of the train?
§ MR. MUNDELLAIf that is done the Company, I think, runs great risk of being liable for compensation in case of accidents.
§ In reply to Mr. H. W. LAWSON (Gloucester, Cirencester),
§ MR. MUNDELLApromised to make further inquiries as to the change that had been made.