§ 42. Mr. Freethasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will give the average number of cars passing through Bridge Street, Andover, A.303, per hour, during daylight last August, or such other figures as any traffic census during the summer may have yielded.
§ Mr. NugentNo census of traffic has been taken in Bridge Street, Andover. A census was, however, taken as part of the 1958 census at a point some 5½ miles east of the centre of Andover. An average number of 2,506 cars per day of sixteen hours was recorded.
§ Mr. FreethDoes my hon. Friend agree that the number of cars passing through this very busy thoroughfare on their way to the West, particularly at weekends, is causing increasing dislocation and congestion in the main street of Andover, especially as, following the introduction of diesel trains on the Andover-Romsey line, the level crossing gates are now closed for far longer periods than ever before?
§ Mr. NugentNaturally, as more traffic passes through Andover there is greater congestion there. I am well aware of the difficulty at the level crossing, but I do not understand why diesel trains should cause greater difficulty.
§ Mr. FreethThe service is more frequent.