§ 24. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the adequacy of pedestrian crossing facilities in the road improvement plans submitted to him by Portsmouth City Council; whether he will review the implementation of pedestrian crossing plans there with reference to past delays in opening pedestrian underpasses; and whether he will investigate the traffic hazards related to road developments at Hilsea which lie between local residents and their shops, public houses and schools.
Mr. Bob BrownSince an oral reply to this Question would be inordinately long I will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Mr. JuddI look forward to receiving the letter. The people in the middle of 1043 this development feel that they are marooned in a sea of traffic. Will my hon. Friend assure the House that, whenever similar schemes elsewhere are being planned and undertaken, his Department will see that the needs of local communities and pedestrians are not overlooked?
Mr. BrownIn so far as the responsibility is that of my Department, yes, Sir. In so far as it is the responsibility of a local authority, clearly the local authority will have to bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said.
§ Dr. WinstanleyIs not it time that decisions on pedestrian crossings were left to the local authority in the area concerned? Why does the Ministry of Transport always think that it knows better than people on the spot?
Mr. BrownIf the hon. Gentleman had made this comment about 18 months ago, he would have done so with some justice, but local authorities now have the right to determine where pedestrian crossings shall be within certain criteria and within a certain number.