§ * MR. BARLOW (Frome, Somerset)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the facts that the level crossing over the Great Western Railway at Twerton, near to Bath, is dangerous, from its being an extensively used channel of communication between two populous districts; that a large number of 149 express trains pass daily, several of them without stopping at Bath, at high rates of speed; and that the parish council, the county coroner, and the coroner's jury have all concurred in this opinion, but that the Great Western Railway Company, though frequently approached, have always refused to construct a footbridge at this point, the Board of Trade have power to compel the railway company to erect a footbridge; and, if not, whether the Government will seek to obtain such power.
§ MR. RITCHIENo, Sir, the Board of Trade have no power to order the company to erect a footbridge, and I am not prepared to propose legislation to confer such power upon the Department. The Board of Trade have had considerable correspondence with the company on the subject of the bridge, and I shall be happy to supply the honourable Member with a copy. It is worthy of observation that there are already two overbridges, each only 150 yards distant from this crossing.