HC Deb 21 November 1956 vol 560 cc1728-9
29. Mr. Page

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether the review of the national highway system which is being undertaken by a special planning section of his Department will include a review of the footpaths deficiencies on many busy main roads.

Mr. Molson

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Page

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask him whether he will call the attention of those carrying out this review to the grave inadequacy of the pavements in some of the shopping areas, forcing pedestrians on to the road, and will he also call the attention of those carrying out this review to the pernicious habit of parking on pavements?

Mr. Molson

I do not think it is necessary to draw the attention of the Department to those points when it is carrying out this review. The whole of the matter will be carefully considered.

Mr. L. Thomas

Does my right hon. Friend not agree that, however important it may be to have adequate footpaths in busy main roads, there are in the countryside and rural areas hundreds of miles of made-up footpaths, particularly in sparsely populated areas, which are rarely used, thus indicating a great waste of public money? When this review is undertaken, will the Minister have this point in mind?

Mr. Molson

Yes, Sir. Our policy is to provide footpaths where pedestrian and other traffic warrants them. I agree with my hon. Friend that to provide footpaths in the depths of the country is wasteful of money and of land. I am glad to say that, generally speaking, since the war a more realistic policy has been followed in this matter by most of the highway authorities.

Mr. Ernest Davies

May I ask the Minister not to accept as a principle that footpaths should not be constructed in the countryside, because there is the safety factor to consider, which is very important, where traffic travels at very high speeds in country lanes?

Mr. Molson

That is why I said, having chosen my words with great care, where pedestrian and other traffic warrants them. There are undoubtedly many cases, such as my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. L. Thomas) has referred to, where we have footpaths in the depths of the country with no pedestrian in sight.