§ Dr. Michael Clark (Rochford)I beg to ask leave to present two petitions. One is from 71 business men and persons having cause to visit Foulness island in my constituency requesting that Havengore bridge, which is the only means of access to the island, be promptly replaced.
The bridge was built in Germany and transported to Foulness island secondhand in 1921. As the island is a military area, the bridge is the property of the Ministry of Defence. The petition points out that the bridge is old and in bad condition. The lifting mechanism which should enable ships to pass underneath it is worn out and does not 586 work. The bridge is unsafe and loads crossing the bridge have to be broken down into small packets incurring considerable costs to business people. Also, there are delays due to single line traffic on the bridge and the compulsory long spacing between vehicles crossing. The petition is signed by farmers, shopkeepers, teachers, contractors, grain merchants, agricultural engineers, millers, councillors, suppliers, tradesmen and craftsmen.
The second petition, or, the same subject, is signed by 98 per cent. of the residents of Foulness island—172 people. It makes the same point about the poor condition of the bridge and refers to the fact that the bridge is frequently closed, sometimes for weeks, thus locking the islanders into the island or away from their homes from 7 o'clock in the morning to 5 o'clock at night. They also point out that there is restricted access for emergency services, and the vital work of rebuilding the sea defences is being severely curtailed. I should like to associate myself with those remarks. The petitions conclude:
Wherefore your Petitioners pray that the hon. Members of the House of Commons should bear in mind the inconvenience and expense incurred by the existing bridge. We ask that they should therefore urge the Minister of Defence that he should recommend to the House the urgent replacement of Havengore Bridge. And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, etc.To lie upon the Table.