HC Deb 25 March 1948 vol 448 c3329
33. Mr. Dodds-Parker

asked the Minister of Education whether he will reconsider the decision to build a new senior school at Burford, Oxfordshire, south rather than north of the main A40 trunk road in view of the dangerous nature of this road crossing.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Education (Mr. Hardman)

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that there is no better alternative. He is assured that the authority will take all possible steps to obviate danger to the children.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

Is the Minister aware that before the war the local justices of the peace, the parish council, the local police authorities and everybody locally, appealed against this decision to build the school on the wrong side of the road; that land was acquired for building it on the correct side of the road; and that, when an already high accident rate is increased, it will be the direct responsibility of the Ministry of Education?

Mr. Hardman

We have consulted the local authority, and, at the present time, there is no alternative but to give the answer I have given.

Mr. Dodds-Parker

There is an alternative on the other side of the road—the land acquired before the war.