HC Deb 21 November 1956 vol 560 cc1721-2
11. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what reply he has sent to the letter to his Department from the town clerk of Newcastle-under-Lyme, dated 29th October, concerning the accident statistics on Clayton Road, A519; and if he will now reconsider his decision about the road widening scheme.

The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Harold Watkinson)

I have replied that, in the opinion of the police, these accidents were caused by irresponsible driving and not by the nature of the road. I see no reason, therefore, to change my decision about the road widening scheme.

Mr. Swingler

Would not the Minister pay a litle more regard to local opinion in this matter? Is he not aware that many of my constituents who live on this road and, almost unanimously, the members of the town council are most anxious about this rise in the number of accidents which they attribute to the increasing traffic on the road owing to congestion on the A34? Would not he therefore have another look at the matter, because most of my constituents will disagree with this advice that has been given?

Mr. Watkinson

I am always willing to look at any of these difficult accident problems. It is only fair to say, and I think the hon. Member probably knows this, that the seven accidents referred to in the town clerk's letter of 29th October, were, in the opinion of the police, all due to irresponsible driving and not to the road conditions.

12. Mr. Swingler

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation why he refuses to receive a civic deputation from Newcastle-under-Lyme on the subject of Clayton Road, A519, the widening of which the Newcastle-under-Lyme council considers to be urgent in the interests of road safety.

Mr. Watkinson

For the reasons given in the letter to the town clerk dated 3rd August, 1956, a copy of which I sent to the hon. Member at the time, I did not think it right to put the council to the trouble and expense of sending a deputation to see me. I cannot, in present circumstances, give priority to the scheme for widening this road.

Mr. Swingler

Is not it rather unusual for the Minister to take this attitude? Is he not aware that this deputation was unanimously requested by the members of the council who have formed the view that, to the best of their knowledge, this road-widening scheme is urgent in the interests of road safety? Should not the Minister in these circumstances at least be prepared to listen to the views of the men on the spot who have the responsibility?

Mr. Watkinson

I have no objection—either myself or my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary—to seeing the deputation, but I must warn the hon. Member that they may well go to the expense of coming for nothing.

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