HL Deb 21 January 1959 vol 213 cc611-2

2.40 p.m.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the closing down of many branch lines all over the country, consideration has been, or can be, given to the transforming of such lines into roads where suitable.]

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, when a railway line near a proposed new road is to be closed permanently, the possibility of using it in the construction of the road is considered by the highway authority concerned, who must be satisfied that this is justified on both engineering and economic grounds. An example of such a conversion is the current Heads of the Valleys road-improvement scheme in South Wales, which uses part of the Abergavenny-Merthyr line.

EARL HOWE

My Lords, while thanking the noble Earl very much for his answer, may I ask him whether the initiative in such a case comes from the local authority or from the Ministry of Transport?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, when it is proposed to close a railway line, the Transport Commission inform the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, who notify the local authority concerned, in case the information will be of any value.

EARL HOWE

Does the initiative come from the local authority or from the Ministry of Transport when there is a possibility of making use of it as a road?

THE EARL OF GOSFORD

My Lords, local authorities are responsible for providing roads. They inform the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation of any roads which they propose to build in a certain area, and at the same time the Ministry of Transport inform them of any railways anywhere near that area which are to be, so to speak, derequisitioned.