§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is 14 aware that the Richmond Lock Footbridge is the only means of communication between the working-class districts of Isle-worth and the open spaces of the Old Deer Park at Richmond; and, seeing that such communication is cut off by a toll, now the last on the River Thames, whether he can see his way to recommend the Government to take early steps for the freeing of such bridge from toll?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Buxton)I have communicated with the Port of London Authority, upon whom the duty devolves of maintaining the footbridge and other works constructed under the Richmond Footbridge, Sluices, Lock, and Slipway Act, 1890, and they inform me that the annual cost of this service averages £794, and that the total receipts amount only to £417 per annum. Representations were made in 1909 to the Port Authority from the localities concerned that the footbridge should be freed from toll, and, after careful consideration, the authority decided that, in the absence of any local contribution, they could not accede to the request. The Board of Trade have no jurisdiction in the matter.