§ Sir R. Blairasked the Minister of Transport on how many occasions during the last seven years has the roadway at Nightingale's Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, been opened up, and for what purposes; and will he endeavour to arrange some collaboration between the local authority and the contractors to lessen the cost and inconvenience suffered?
§ Captain WallaceI am informed by the Bucks County Council, who are die highway authority for the road, that during the past seven years the roadway at Nightingale's Lane, Chalfont St. Giles, has been opened up on 52 occasions. These openings have, for the most part, been trenches made by public utility undertakings to enable service connections to be made.
Statutory undertakers have the right under the existing law to break up streets in order that they may place their mains and service connections in the subsoil. Highway authorities endeavour, so far as lies within their power, to correlate projected disturbances of this kind.
My hon. Friend will recall that the whole question has recently been under consideration by a Select Committee of both Houses, whose report is now awaited.