§ 20. Captain Viscount CURZONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport whether he is aware that certain highway authorities are serving notices on owners of kerbside pumps ordering them to remove their installations; that three corporations purpose to seek powers to authorise such installations; that these corporations refuse to state upon what terms, if any, these powers are to be granted; and whether he will take steps to see that a standard regulation is laid down so that conditions for such installations may be uniform and may be granted throughout the country?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am advised that local authorities have no power to sanction, or even to acquiesce in, the erection of petrol pumps or similar installations 236 on lands dedicated to a public highway. It seems to me very desirable that petrol pumps should, wherever possible, be erected on private property adjacent to the highway, in such a manner as to enable vehicles to draw up to the pump without causing obstruction either in the carriageway or on the footpath. I am not prepared to support any Clauses in private Bills intended to confer powers on local authorities to authorise such installations on lands dedicated to the public highway.
§ Viscount CURZONMay I have a reply to the last part of the question, as to a standard regulation?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe standard regulation is that we do not approve of any of them.