§ 41. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that on 2nd February the services of three policemen on motor cycles, a police patrol car, a General Post Office telephone van, a motor cyclist from the local highways department and a transport department van were used to assist a heavily loaded vehicle to pass through Leicester so as to avoid causing damage; and when he proposes to bring his new regulations into effect in order to avoid aggravating traffic congestion in Leicester and elsewhere.
§ Mr. MarplesYes, Sir. The route and the time of the movement were controlled by the police and I understand that no difficulty was experienced. I hope to introduce new regulations governing the movement of large loads very shortly.
§ Sir B. JannerSurely the right hon. Gentleman is not satisfied with that. Does not he realise that the use of all these public services to get a load 458 through the town is a serious matter? The police have no power to prevent this transport coming through at this time of day. Why does not he bring in regulations so that we may have some sense in dealing with these matters? Why does not he devise a method whereby rail and road can combine in this matter?
§ Mr. MarplesThe police have power concerning large loads under the existing regulations. I propose to make new regulations which I think will be better than the old ones. If we did not think so, they would not be introduced. I asked the local police what happened in this matter. They said that the movement took place at 2 p.m. on early closing day, that traffic was light and that no difficulty was experienced.