§ 57. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation the number of accidents and casualties that have occurred on the Markyate by-pass since it was opened, the number during the same period on that section of A.5 it replaces, and the number during the comparable period of the previous year.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)There were 9 accidents involving 14 casualties on the Markyate by-pass from 8th June, 1957, to 12th February, 1958; 1 accident involving 1 casualty on A.5 in the same period; and 8 accidents involving 12 casualties on A.5 in the corresponding period of the previous year.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesDoes not this reveal that the work that has been done on the Markyate by-pass is quite inadequate? Was it not a short-sighted policy to build this as a two-lane carriageway instead of a dual carriageway, with crossings on the level? Is it not better, when new roadways like this are undertaken, that they should be built on such a scale that these accidents can be avoided?
§ Mr. NugentNo, Sir; the by-pass was built to carry the traffic that it is now carrying; and, in fact, when the London-Birmingham motorway is opened in two years' time, and the Watford-Doncaster motorway is open, the volume of traffic travelling on the by-pass will be considerably reduced.