§ 3 and 4. Mr. Molloyasked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps are being taken by his Department, the local authority and other bodies involved, to replace the condemned bridge at Kensington Road in Northolt, Middlesex;
(2) if he will authorise the construction of a Bailey bridge as a temporary measure at the site of the condemned bridge at Kensington Road, Northolt, Middlesex, 154 as proposed to him in representations by the hon. Member for Ealing, North.
The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Bob Brown)The highway authority for Kensington Road is the London Borough of Ealing.
I understand that the British Waterways Board has promised to bear the cost of replacing the bridge to its original standards. We are prepared to give loan sanction for the extra cost of rebuilding it to modern standards.
The provision of a temporary bridge does not need my right hon. Friend's authority.
§ Mr. MolloyIs my hon. Friend aware that there is a feeling of great frustration among people who have to use this bridge, and that a large and important area of my constituency is upset industrially, commercially and socially by what appears to be a bureaucratic row with regard to responsibility for the building of a new bridge? Replacement of the bridge may take two years. Will my hon. Friend use his endeavours to see that those who are responsible adopt my idea for a Bailey bridge structure in this area while the new bridge is under construction?.
Mr. BrownI cannot go further than to say that the responsibility is that of the local council. I shall see that the local council is made aware of my hon. Friend's views.