§ 23. Mr. G. Thomasasked the Minister of Transport whether he will sanction the erection of traffic lights at the junction of Ely Road and Western Avenue, Llandaff; and what safety measures he proposes to take to protect children crossing Western Avenue to reach their school.
§ Mr. HayWe have received no request for signals at this junction. But my right hon. Friend is advised that neither on traffic nor safety grounds would the provision of signals be justified here.
The best protection for school children is by a crossing patrol, but that is a matter for the city council.
§ Mr. ThomasIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a particularly dangerous spot where there has been a series of fatal accidents? It appears to me to be so from my own knowledge. Is he aware that nothing has been done, while the residents of the district are in great fear for children crossing this road which has very fast traffic on it? Will the hon. Gentleman stir up his local officials to take some safety measure in this respect?
§ Mr. HayI am sorry to disagree with the hon. Member. The information I 1299 have is that it is not a particularly dangerous stretch of road. The accident rate since 1960, I am told, is one fatal accident, an aged pedestrian knocked down in October, two serious accidents and three slight. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] Although deplorable, that does not form the sort of accident record we expect where pedestrian crossing facilities are asked for, but if the city council asks us to look into it we will, of course, do that.
§ Mr. ThomasHow many accidents must there he before the hon. Gentleman regards conditions as dangerous? Is not the list he read out an unpleasant list? This is a most dangerous spot. I hope that the hon. Gentleman will give further attention to matters I have raised today.