§ 69. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the accident on 21st February involving the cargo motorboat "Columba," bound from Cheshire to Newbury, he will take the necessary steps to have the dangerous girders removed from Kennet Bridge, Reading, so that this section of the Kennet and Avon waterway may safely be used.
§ Mr. BarnesAccording to my information this accident did not involve any collision with the girders of the bridge. I understand that a fence to which the "Columbia" was tied was pulled down while the water level was being lowered to enable the boat to pass under the bridge. I should like to be able to assist 95W the responsible bridge authority to reconstruct the bridge with more headroom, but I am unable to make a grant for this purpose while capital expenditure has to be so strictly limited.