HC Deb 03 June 1935 vol 302 cc1528-9
45. Mr. REMER

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the 30-miles-per-hour restricted area on the main road between London and Manchester and Liverpool passing through Newcastle-under-Lyme; whether he is aware that the length restricted exceeds nine miles and that long stretches have no street lamps, no houses, and consist of wide arterial roads; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with restrictions which have been unreasonably placed in this and other places?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Captain Austin Hudson)

My right hon. Friend's attention has been called to the application of the 30 miles per hour speed limit to certain sections of the road which runs from Strongford Bridge to the road leading from Talke which I think is the road which my hon. Friend has in mind. He is informed that of this stretch of approximately 10 miles, only about one mile of unlighted road is restricted. His officers are in communication with the local authorities concerned with a view to derestricting any sections where the speed limit appears to have been unnecessarily imposed. He is taking the same action with regard to similar roads in other areas.

Mr. REMER

Is my hon. and gallant Friend aware that this question was put down last Monday and that I was travelling over the road last Wednesday, and part of it was being de-restricted then? Is it really necessary that Members of Parliament should have to put questions about every part of the country before roads can be de-restricted?

Captain Sir WILLIAM BRASS

In view of the statement that these roads are unnecessarily restricted, can my hon. and gallant Friend say whether the Minister agrees to these restrictions by the local authorities?

Captain HUDSON

My hon. and gallant Friend knows that these roads are restricted by the local authority under an Act of Parliament. We are asking the highway authority to act as quickly as possible. I think hon. Members will have noticed all over the country that the situation is being rapidly put right.

Sir W. BRASS

Surely my hon. and gallant Friend is aware that this cannot take place without the consent of his right hon. Friend?