§ 28. Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONasked the Minister of Transport how many fatal and other accidents to road travellers have been caused during the past two years by collisions with telephone and telegraph poles erected alongside public highways?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo statistics are available which would enable me to give my hon. Friend the information for which he asks.
§ Sir D. NEWTONIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that a great many accidents have occurred from this cause, and will he be prepared to make representation to the Post Office authorities that they should fix these posts on the inside rather than on the outside of the fences.
§ Colonel ASHLEYI know there are a certain number of accidents which do occur. In North Wales I saw several cases where the local authorities, with the concurrence of the owners of the land on each side, and the Post Office, had moved the telephone posts from the pathway between the road way and the fence and placed them inside the fence, and this minimises the chance of accidents.
§ Mr. SHEPHERDCannot the right hon. and gallant Gentleman extend the system of putting white paint or white strips on telegraph poles which are situated on the side of the road?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI will consider that, but I think it is the presence of the posts rather than their visibility.