§ 27. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Anderson Drive, Aberdeen, which was constructed as a by-pass in a rural area outside the City is now surrounded by thickly populated areas and no longer serves its purpose as a by-pass and that many accidents, fatal and otherwise, have occurred there; and if he will now take urgent steps to prevent such accidents by introducing a speed limit or underground or overhead crossings there.
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. R. Brooman-White)Anderson Drive is a classified road and a recommended ring route. The provision of underground or overhead crossings or the imposition of a speed limit are matters for the consideration of the Town Council in the first instance. My right hon. Friend is, however, prepared to give favourable consideration to any application from the Town Council for a speed limit of 40 m.p.h. on this length of road.
§ Mr. HughesWill not the Minister agree that this is a classic case of a by-pass having outgrown its safety and usefulness? Surely, this must be a common problem, and will he, in conjunction with the Minister of Transport or whatever authority is the relevant authority, take steps to see that this problem is solved by a speed limit, an 196 overhead or underground crossing, or in some other way, so as to stop the great loss of life which occurs on Anderson Drive?
§ Mr. Brooman-WhiteNobody would want to be complacent about the accident rate, but I think that the initiative must come in the first instance from the Town Council.