§ 2.46 p.m.
§ LORD ALLERTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they propose to take to ensure that bridges and viaducts on disused railway lines are maintained thus preventing them from being a great danger to the public]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)My right honourable friends the Minister of Transport and the Secretary of State for Scotland will continue to maintain to safe standards those bridges carrying trunk roads over railway lines, disused or otherwise, for which they are responsible.
438 The Railways Board will similarly maintain all bridges or viaducts for which they are responsible for as long as the structures are retained in being.
§ LORD ALLERTONMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his reply, but may I ask whether he is aware that there are many miles of hedges, fences and drainage systems on railway property which are not receiving attention, the result of which will be very shortly that the fences and hedges will no longer remain stock-proof, the drainage will become ineffective and the gates will become useless? Moreover, is he aware that it is highly probable that land and crops adjoining railway property where the drainage becomes ineffective will suffer considerable damage? Further, am I right in thinking that the occupiers of land so affected will have a valid claim against British Railways?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, the Question is about bridges carrying railways over roads or bridges carrying roads over railways. The matter of fences, drainage and the maintenance of gates is another question entirely; but if the noble Lord will put it down I will answer it.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether it would not be more sensible for bridges and viaducts carrying disused railways over roads to be dismantled? Presumably the railways are not going to be used again.
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, if that is the best solution, they will be dismantled.
§ LORD ALLERTONMy Lords, may I ask whether that is likely to happen?
§ LORD LINDGRENYes, whenever they become dangerous structures.
VISCOUNT GAGEMy Lords, is it not true that the negotiations between the County Councils' Association and the Government on this question of whose responsibility are the roads and bridges over railways is one of the very few things that the late Administration left in a somewhat unsatisfactory condition? Would the noble Lord not be performing a great service if he could clear up this matter to the satisfaction of the County Councils' Association?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, Section 100 of the 1959 Act allows the county councils to take over the maintenance of roads on bridges; but the structures which carry the roads are still, unless there are separate negotiations with the local authorities, the responsibility of the Railways Board.