§ SIR WALTER FOSTER (Derbyshire, Ilkeston)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received any reply from the Midland Railway Company in answer to his communication respecting the level crossing at Long Eaton, and whether any steps will be taken to render this crossing, which has been the subject of complaint from the local authority and has been condemned by a coroner's jury, less dangerous to the public.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (MR. RITCHIE,) CroydonYes, Sir; I have received a reply from the company dated the 17th instant, in which the general manager points out 179 that the wickets and the carriage gates at this crossing are controlled and locked from the signal box, and that there is a footbridge for the use of pedestrians. It is added that the company are now engaged in widening their Erewash line and constructing new lines for goods and mineral trains, and that the completion of these works will have the effect of diverting from this crossing a large number of the trains at present passing over it on the level. In view of the altered circumstances which will then arise the directors state that they do not think themselves justified in incurring the heavy expense which would be involved in the provision of a subway as suggested by the local authorities.