HC Deb 21 April 1896 vol 39 cc1363-4
MR. A. K. LOYD (Berks, Abingdon)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps, if any, have been taken to remedy the danger to the public reported by Major Yorke, R.E., to exist at Uffington Station on the Great "Western Railway, in his report to the Board of Trade, dated 11th August, 1894; whether he will state by whose authority the two sidings, required by Captain Rich to be removed from across the high road at that station as a condition of obtaining the sanction of the Board of Trade to the opening of the Faringdon Branch, have been since replaced across the highway, and another siding added to them; and the high road at this crossing rendered not only dangerous but impassable for long intervals by shunting operations upon such sidings; and whether it has been brought to the knowledge of the Department that persons are daily compelled to make a detour of about two miles to avoid the danger and delays of the crossing at Uffington Station?

*THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD or TRADE (Mr. C. T. RITCHIE,) Croydon

The Board of Trade are informed that a footbridge has been erected at the station, and fencing put up between the space occupied by milk carts and the main line, so as to give protection when the carts are being unloaded. With regard to the two sidings referred to, the company state that at the time the Faringdon Railway was inspected it was the property of an independent company, and the line did not come into their possession until July, 1886. The sidings were put in again at some date or other without notice of the previous objection. The Company have fully considered the question of the construction of a bridge, but find that it is estimated to cost £10,000. They are unwilling to incur this large expense at a station where the total number of persons booking only average 25 per day, and are urging the Board of Trade to endeavour to make an arrangement by which a portion of the cost shall be borne by the local authorities. The Department have no knowledge of the number of persons making the détour in order to avoid the crossing. The district is said to be somewhat sparsely populated, and, as I have said, the bookings only average 25 a day.