§ 80. Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Transport if he has received any protests against the present omnibus service, No. 511, operating from Stratford to Chingford, etc.; whether he proposes to sanction its extension to Barking Road, Plaistow; whether he has been informed that such extension would mean that the omnibuses would pass through Church Street, South West Ham, and High Street., Plaistow, which streets have been submitted by the council to the Ministry as restricted streets under Section 7 of the London Traffic Act on the ground of the existence of adequate facilities for the conveyance of passengers, the narrowness of the streets, and the density of the traffic, the width of Church Street South, being only 22 feet, 3 inches, and of High Street, Plaistow, 15 feet,. 6 inches; whether he is aware that the County Borough of West Ham views with considerable alarm the effect of any such increased traffic, which will unnecessarily compete with the present council tramways operating thereon; and whether, therefore, he will 945 refuse to sanction such operation of omnibus service?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)A protest against the proposed extension to Barking Road, Plaistow, of the existing omnibus service No. 511 has been received from the County Borough of West Ham. Responsibility for approving omnibus routes or extensions thereof rests with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who informs me that the application for the extension referred to is still under consideration. I am forwarding a copy of the hon. Member's question and of this reply to the Commissioner. The representations made by the County Borough of West Ham that Church Street, West Ham, and High Street, Plaistow, be declared "restricted streets," under Section 7 of the London Traffic Act, are under consideration, and I hope to be able to announce a decision in the matter very shortly.