HL Deb 12 July 1972 vol 333 cc224-5

2.45 p.m.

LORD BERNSTEIN

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 railway bridges cross roads in the City of Manchester leading to disused railway property not now used for railway operational purposes; and the dates on which these bridges ceased carrying railway traffic.

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I understand that there are nine railway bridges over roads in the city of Manchester on the disused railway lines into the Manchester Central Station and the Deansgate goods yard. The two bridges serving the goods yard exclusively have not carried rail traffic since September, 1964, and use of the other seven bridges ceased on May 5, 1969. I understand that negotiations between the British Railways Board and a prospective purchaser of these two sites and part of the formation, involving seven of these bridges, are well advanced.

LORD BERNSTEIN

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether he will have the dates and the facts checked? I left Manchester at 12 o'clock to-day, and the facts which were given to me are different. I am told that the bridges going into Deansgate have not been used since—

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)

My Lords, I would remind the noble Lord that he must ask a question.

LORD BERNSTEIN

My Lords, perhaps I could put it this way—

EARL JELLICOE

My Lords, I think it is in the recollection of most noble Lords that it is not in order to read supplementary questions.

LORD BERNSTEIN

My Lords, I think I can memorise what I have to say. As I had facts to bring before your Lordships' House I thought I would read them. Will the noble Lord have the facts checked? When I left Manchester at noon to-day I was told that the bridge into Deansgate, which is an arched bridge of 130 feet, has not been used since 1960. Helicopter photographs taken three years later show it being used as a car park. Is the noble Lord aware that Manchester City Corporation, which is a Conservative council, feels very strongly about the pollution—I do not like to use that word: the poisonous effect—of railway arches in the centre of the city?

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, of course I will have all these questions looked at to see whether the facts I have given are correct, and I will write to the noble Lord. I am aware that Manchester is a Conservative animal. As I said, there are two bridges into Deansgate and it is possible that one of the sites was being used, which is what my answer indicated.

LORD HALE

My Lords, is the Minister aware that the South-East Lancashire conurbation still has many immense areas of disused railway property which will hardly ever be used again? I refer particularly to the county borough of Oldham, which has just had rather a savage blow to its local government aspirations. It used to have 10 railway stations. Disposal would help the finances of British Rail and the planning of South-East Lancashire.

LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTON

My Lords, I am well aware of what the noble Lord, Lord Hale, says. The British Railways Board have complete power to dispose of property, subject to offering it first to the local authority. I think they are gradually going ahead with these projects; quite a lot of things are in the pipeline which may not be known to all of us.