§ 23. Major Sir GRANVILLE WHELERasked the Minister of Transport how many bridges there are connecting up first or second class roads in England on which tolls are charged, and what are the maximum tolls charged on such bridges on motor cars and other classes of traffic?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAccording to returns made by highway authorities two years ago, there were then in England 24 toil bridges on Class I roads and 20 on Class II roads. The highest toll for private motor cars was 2s. 6d. and the lowest 2d. Owing to the complete want of uniformity in the classification of vehicles and traffic adopted on different toll bridges, it is not practicable to state the maximum tolls for every category of traffic. Some of the schedules include calashes, barouches and other unfamiliar forms of transport. The complete tabular returns, which are somewhat Voluminous, are deposited in my Department, and I will gladly give every facility to my hon. and gallant Friend to consult them.
§ Sir G. WHELERIf the local authority which has charge of these bridges puts forward a reasonable scheme, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of making a contribution from the Road Fund so that the bridge may be made free for vehicular and other traffic?
§ Colonel ASHLEYCertainly, that is one of the powers given me by the Act of 1925, but as far as I can remember no definite proposal has been put to me by a local authority. If they do, I will certainly consider them, and also the particular instance which the hon. and gallant Member has, I think, in mind.
§ Mr. TAYLORWill the right hon. Gentleman give a pledge that in fixing the price at which these toll bridges are to be acquired he will see that the purchase price is not fixed on unreasonable tolls, wherever they are charged, that they will not be used in such a way as to extort an unreasonable price for purchase from public funds?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI never give Parliamentary pledges; they are most undesirable things. But I will scrutinise any agreement arrived at between a local authority and the owners before I give a grant.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one case a local authority submitted proposals for a bridge built 125 years ago at a cost of £12,000, which was to he acquired for £130,000?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir; the proposal has not yet come officially before me.