§ 14. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many requests he has received asking for him to reverse his decision to have the double white lines painted out on the A38 at Pastures Hill, Derby.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsThree, Sir.
§ Mr. WhiteheadIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the local authority, the Derby Borough Council, applied two years ago for a 40 m.p.h. speed limit on this stretch of road and it put down double white lines—illegally, as it turned out—out of sheer desperation because of the number of accidents and the overtaking which seems endemic on this stretch of road? Will the hon. Gentleman now look sympathetically at a further application from the local authority for a 40 m.p.h. speed limit?
§ Mr. GriffithsAs the hon. Gentleman knows, it is important not to devalue double white lines by putting them in places where they will not be effective. The local authority has been told that we can agree to a 50 m.p.h. limit, and if it will put up a specific proposal in respect of the short section of bend in that stretch my Department will certainly look at it.