HC Deb 08 October 1909 vol 11 cc2436-7

(1) Where the Road Board make an advance to a highway authority in respect of the construction of a new road the Board may authorise the authority to construct the road, and where so authorised the highway authority shall have power to construct the road and to do all such acts as may be necessary for the purpose, and any expenses of the authority, so far as not defrayed out of the advance, shall be defrayed as expenses incurred by the authority in exercise of their powers as highway authority.

(2) Where the highway authority to whom the advance is made are a county council the new road, when constructed, shall be a main road.

Amendment made: At the end of Subsection (1), to insert the words "and the enactments relating to such expenses, including the borrowing provisions, shall apply accordingly."

At the end of Sub-section (2) to insert the words "and in any other case shall be a highway repairable by the inhabitants at large."—[Sir Samuel Evans.]

Mr. RUPERT GUINNESS moved, at the end of Sub-section (2) to add the words, "Provided that the maintenance of any such road within the administrative county of London shall devolve upon the local authority responsible for the maintenance of streets and roads in whose district the same is situate."

The difficulty in London is that the county council make improvements, and hand them over to borough councils to maintain. I hope the Solicitor-General will accept this Amendment, because I think it is absolutely necessary in order to make this Bill workable in regard to London.

Amendment made.