§ 3.6 p.m.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy 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 whether they will insist on a brief technical feasibility study being made to compare the economics of running a bus-type rail service and a road bus service between the terminals of Havant and Hayling Island before a decision is reached on an application by the Havant Urban District Council for planning permission to construct a road on the site of the existing railway line; and if not, to ask how Her Majesty's Government propose to deal with the public transport needs of the resident population of Hayling Island and immediate vicinity and with the increasing road congestion in that area caused by increasing numbers of seasonal holidaymakers.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)My Lords, the authority responsible for considering such a planning application is the Hampshire County Council. Whether or not they would consider an economic comparison of the kind the noble Lord suggests is a matter in the first place for them. The Havant By-pass, when completed, should do much to reduce congestion at holiday times. Further provision for local traffic and transport needs is the responsibility of the highway authorities and transport operators concerned.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer—which I must confess is not entirely satisfactory, and I regret that the noble Lord, Lord Stonham, was not there beside him—may I ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider bringing to the attention of the Hampshire County Council the fact that, as has been mentioned by the Area Manager of the Southdown Motor Service, at certain times it takes a bus one and three-quarter hours to go from Havant to Hayling Island, while the operating company who propose to operate a light railway service between these two points could cover the distance in thirteen minutes? Do not Her Majesty's Government think that that is a point worth considering, in view of the large congestion at certain periods of the year between Hayling Island and Havant? May I also draw the noble Lord's attention to the fact that the railway track is in perfect condition and that it would be a great shame to pull it up?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, to take the latter part of the noble Lord's supplementary first, the Statement of my right honourable friend made on November 4 stands. The track will remain unless the railway authorities apply to him for permission to take it up, and then he would consider any application on its merits. So far as the first part of the supplementary question is concerned, that is a matter in the first instance for the Hampshire County Council together with the local urban district council, but if any representations are made to my right honourable friend or to the Ministry's Divisional Road Engineer we shall be only too pleased to co-operate.
§ LORD MERRIVALEMy Lords, I am most grateful for the latter part of the answer regarding co-operation on the part of Her Majesty's Government. But as the noble Lord's right honourable friend is aware, I believe, of the fact that out of a total residential population of 9,000 there have already been received 5,000 signatures of persons who are keen that a light railway service should operate, will he also bear that in mind? Will he also bear in mind, and express to the Hampshire County Council, that the Havant and Emsworth District Chambers of Trade, the Havant and Bedhampton Electors' and Ratepayers' 929 Association and the Havant and District Railway Retirement Association are all against the closing down of the normal line?
§ LORD LINDGRENMy Lords, as I said in my Statement, following my right honourable friend's Statement in another place on November 4, my right honourable friend has no power under the 1962 Transport Act to interfere with any decision made by the previous Minister. So far as the latter part of the question is concerned there has been no formal application to my right honourable friend in regard to the possible operation of a light railway. If one were made, then my right honourable friend would have to consider the financial stability of the organisation applying and its technical ability to carry out the job, because he would be responsible under a Light Railway Order for the safety of such a railway.
§ LORD MERRIVALEI am most grateful.