HL Deb 18 February 1965 vol 263 cc610-2

2.36 p.m.

LORD SEGAL

My 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 how many cases of serious injury and how many fatalities have occurred as a result of accidents on the Oxford Northern By-Pass during the last ten years; and when the dual carriageway on this By-Pass is scheduled for completion.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)

My Lords, during the ten-year period ending December 31, 1964, 126 serious and 24 fatal injuries were reported as a result of accidents on this stretch of road. This is below the. national average, but my right honourable friend considers that the road should be brought up to dual carriageway standards as quickly as possible. Work will begin as soon as the statutory processes and acquisition of land have been completed. It should be available to traffic in early 1969.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for replying, I wish I could thank him also for the nature of his reply. Is my noble friend aware that this Oxford By-Pass is regarded locally as yet another "lost cause", and is it not a pity that this senseless slaughter on this short five-mile stretch of road is now to be allowed to continue for at least another four or five years?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, all accidents are to be regretted, and of course they are regretted, most particularly by those who are directly associated with the victims. But in planning road improvements—and there are a vast number of roads in this country which must be improved—there must be a programme. My right honourable friend has accepted the urgency of this case and we are going ahead as soon as ever we can in regard to the land acquisition, the letting of contracts and the rest. The Divisional Road Engineer is having discussions with the City Engineer and the County in order to see whether meantime some local improvements can be made.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, while I accept all that my noble friend has said, and realise that in Oxford things are apt to move rather slowly, may I ask whether he does not recognise that the Northern By-Pass is an exception to this rule? Will he not urge his right honourable friend to give a much higher priority for the completion of this road?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, this is another case where everyone agrees that the road ought to be provided. But when it comes to the question of the acquisition of the land and property the persons there, while agreeing that the road is necessary, think it ought to be on somebody else's land and through somebody else's property.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, subject to correction, I believe that the land is already available on the actual existing road for the completion of this double by-pass.

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, some landowners have of course been most cooperative, and I should like to say that we appreciate that. But there are one or two who are difficult, and because of that my right honourable friend, in conjunction with the Department, is considering whether or not work on this road can be carried out in sections, thereby avoiding delay in regard to the difficult acquisitions. But, of course, dealing with a contract of £1 million like this in sections means that the contractor cannot plan his work quite so effectively and efficiently, and, equally, it tends to increase the cost.

LORD BRECON

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that, in the meantime, the authorities could change the white lines on this road at present dividing it into three lanes, and put down a solid line, for a half a mile on one side and then on the other, and so prevent cars travelling in both directions from trying to get the right of way in the centre lane? This, I understand, has been done on the A.l road with great success, so may we ask for this to be done? I should also like to say that I believe that there is sufficient room between the hedgerows on either side to make a dual carriageway, without the acquisition of any further land.

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, the question of offset double white lines is one of the subjects now under discussion with the City of Oxford and with the County. If a recommendation comes from the Divisional Road Engineer to my right honourable friend, it will be implemented.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I am not quite certain if I heard the first answer of the noble Lord correctly. I thought he said that the rate of accidents on the existing road was below the national average. What exactly does that mean in relation to a five-mile stretch?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, if one has lost a friend in an accident, national averages really do not matter and I should not like to go into detail. This is a three-lane road and the visibility is good. The accident rate, as such, is not high, but because it is a three-lane road, when accidents do happen they are generally head-on collisions and the severity of those accidents is extreme. For instance, even from January 1 to February 15 this year there were two accidents in which, tragically, five people were killed.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that answer. May I point out that the words "national average" were not my words, but his. I only wanted to know what they meant.

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, the figures are worked out on an average basis of vehicle miles—the number of vehicles, miles travelled and so on—and the accident rate over similar stretches of road. But, as I said, that is not much good to someone who has lost a near relative.