§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that the Southern Railway Company contemplates the closing of South Bermondsey Station and erecting a station midway between that and the disused Old Kent Road Station; whether his Department has been consulted regarding the company's proposed action; and whether he will take steps to secure the retention of the existing station and also the reopening of the Old Kent Road Station, as strongly recommended by the Committee recently inquiring into the traffic facilities for the dense population residing within the South-east London area?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI understand that the Southern Railway Company have come to the conclusion that they would not be justified in incurring the expense that would be involved in rebuilding and reopening Old Kent Road Station and continuing to use South Bermondsey Station, but with a view to meeting, so far as possible, the complaints that have been made, and facilitating the operation of840W their electrified services, they contemplate taking the action referred to in the question. The proposed new station will, I understand, be within a quarter of a mile of the site of Old Kent Road Station, and in the circumstances I am not prepared to press the railway company further.