HC Deb 09 December 1935 vol 307 cc561-2
78. Mr. LANSBURY

asked the Minister of Transport how many fatal and other road accidents have taken place in the borough of Poplar during the years 1933 and 1934, up to date; and in which streets and roads the greatest number of accidents occurred?

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

The number of street accidents in the borough of Poplar involving personal injury over the period in question is as follows:

Period. Fatal accidents. Other accidents involving personal injury.
1933 24 713
1934 24 705
1935 (10 months) 7 561
The roads in Poplar on which accidents involving personal injury appear most frequently to occur are the East and West India Dock Roads, and Bow Road. These roads have been scheduled for intensive observation and certain improvements have been effected. Proposals for the erection of pedestrian guard-rails in the area are under discussion with the highway authority.

Mr. LANSBURY

Will not the Department reconsider the proposal to construct a subway from Bow Road Station, under the road, so that passengers coming from the railway to get on to the omnibuses going further east need not come out on to the road? I should like, further, to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any recent information, because in the last week or two there seems to have been an increase in the number of people who have been knocked down. This particular point is a very dangerous one, and the provision of a subway for passengers from the railway would be relatively easy.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

I hope that the right hon. Gentleman is satisfied with the very considerable decrease, as far as it goes. We naturally wish to carry that decrease further. It is sufficient for me to know that the right hon. Gentleman is interested in a proposal for me to give it the most sympathetic attention. If the highway authority will put forward a proposal on the lines suggested by the right hon. Gentleman, I shall be most happy to consider it.