HC Deb 03 April 1957 vol 568 cc382-3
18. Captain Pilkington

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the average cost per mile of providing kerbstones on main roads in the country.

15. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what his policy is towards the use of vertical kerbstones on trunk roads in rural areas.

Mr. Watkinson

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Sir F. Medlicott) on Wednesday, 27th March, in which I said that my policy is that vertical kerbs should not be used in rural areas except in certain particular circumstances, and that kerbing costs about £4,500 a mile of road.

Captain Pilkington

I know that my right hon. Friend has had this matter under consideration, but does he not think that there are too many rural roads where these kerbs are not really necessary? At a time when there is such urgent need for more road surfaces, does my right hon. Friend not think that these refinements should be postponed and that the men, money and materials should be used to provide a greater area of road surface?

Mr. Watkinson

Yes, I quite agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. He is entirely right, and it is that instruction which has been sent to all local authorities.