§ 6. Mr. Walter Fletcherasked the Minister of Transport if he will make arrangements to improve the method of signposting in and out of London with a view to these improvements being completed before the Festival of Britain.
§ Mr. BarnesA temporary scheme for signposting the major routes in and out of London has been put in hand by the Royal Automobile Club and the Automobile Association in consultation with my Department and the local authorities concerned. This scheme will be completed before the Festival
§ Mr. FletcherWill the right hon. Gentleman make quite certain that the scheme is ample enough to give real guidance, not only on direct main roads, but also on parallel roads which are so frequently used, because, if the signposting around London remains as at present, there will be many lost sheep among the visitors to the Festival of Britain?
§ Mr. BarnesI think we are all indebted to these two motoring associations for this voluntary task, which they undertake at their own expense. They have co-operated with my Department considerably. On the basis of experience, we hope progressively to develop a permanent system of signposting in London, but I would not like to commit myself at the moment as to how far it can be dealt with on the circular plan.
§ Mr. JannerWill my right hon. Friend also consider the question of making clear the road names in London, so that people will know exactly where they are?
§ Mr. BarnesI would remind hon. Members that I have to depend on the co-operation of a great many authorities in operating these schemes.
§ Mr. GammansIs the Minister aware that many signposts are too small and far too high? Will he say what he has done, or will do, as distinct from the motoring organisations, to signpost important roads, and apart from what he has done on the way to Dover?
§ Mr. BarnesWhat we are concentrating on, departmentally and in an experimental way, is to get the three main port roads signposted: the London— Dover, London—Harwich and London— Southampton routes.