§ 29. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the Sherva road from Kilsyth Road to the village of Twechar, Dumbartonshire, has been closed by the county council's order to motor omnibuses carrying more than 14 passengers; that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 people living in Twechar; that they have no railway facilities; and that the order is to last for a period of five years; and whether, under the circumstances, he will have the state of the Sherva road re-examined with a view to making it fit to bear the traffic required by a growing industrial population?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Order to which the hon. Member refers was made by me on the application of the County Council of Dumbarton after a public inquiry. Before making the Order I satisfied myself that the use of the road by larger passenger-carrying vehicles was dangerous and that the widening of the road to carry such traffic was unjustifiable on the ground of its cost.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONis the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that in the allocation of public funds for expenditure on the roads of Dumbartonshire the money is equitably spent as between the roads in working-class areas and the roads in the residential areas?
§ Colonel ASHLEYYes, I am, most decidedly. I would point out that in this case it is quite possible to have a service of 14-seater omnibuses on this road, or, alternatively, to have a service of larger omnibuses about a mile and a-half to the north.