HC Deb 29 June 1953 vol 517 cc20-1
44. Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that traffic in both directions is now frequently brought to a complete standstill in Jermyn Street, W.1, owing to the narrowness of the street and the number of vehicles parked on both sides of it at all hours of the day; and if he will now replace the no-waiting restrictions by unilateral waiting and reconsider his decision not to try one-way traffic as an experiment.

Mr. Braithwaite

Traffic conditions in Jermyn Street have presented a troublesome problem for many years, but I am advised that the reintroduction of unilateral waiting would only increase the difficulties there. We will, however, consider with the Commissioner of Police and the other authorities concerned whether one-way working should be introduced in conjunction with the existing no-waiting restrictions.

Mr. Russell

While thanking my hon. Friend for the suggestion about one-way working, may I ask whether he is aware that the no-waiting restrictions are seldom obeyed and are as much good as having no no-waiting restrictions at all?

Mr. Braithwaite

I am informed that there is a constable daily on patrol in the street and that a large number of infringements of the regulations have been reported. I would agree, however, that the position is not altogether satisfactory.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that his decision to make Jermyn Street a one-way street and not to allow parking there will be welcomed by all who want to see a little contribution on the part of the present Government to solving the problem of the growing paralysis of traffic in the West End?

The following table shows the annual expenditure which falls to be met from the Road Fund in respect of maintenance and minor improvement of trunk and classified roads from 1946–47 to 1951–52, the latest year for which figures are at present available, together with percentages of the estimated approximate value of work done based on 1946–47 as 100.

—— Trunk Roads Classified Roads Total Estimated approximate value of work done based on 1946–47 = 100
£'000 £'000 £'000
1946–47 … … 6,579 11,947 18,526 100
1947–48 … … 7,272 13,517 20,789 99
1948–49 … … 6,241 11,092 17,333 78
1949–50 … … 6,868 12,977 19,845 86
1950–51 … … 6,286 12,536 18,822 81
1951–52 … … 8,082 16,507 24,589 91

The figures for trunk roads represent payments from the Road Fund while those for classified roads represent the proportion of the expenditure incurred by highway authorities which falls to be met out of the Road Fund.