Cattle-grids

HC Deb 09 July 1963 vol 680 cc135-8W

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport what regulations he has issued under the Highways (Provision of Cattle-grids) Act, 1950, as to the construction of cattle-grids.

Mr. Marples

I have made no regulations. Technical advice was circulated to all highway authorities in 1951, which took account of views expressed by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and twenty other interested bodies. I am sending copies of this advice to my hon. Friend.

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that the cattle-grids recently installed at Minchinhampton and Selsley Commons, near Stroud, are faultily planned and constructed, are dangerous, and unfit for their purpose; and when he proposes to remedy these defects.

Mr. Marples

The answer to the first part of the Question is No. Nor am I the highway authority for the roads on which these grids have been placed. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport, what representations he has received from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as to the proper construction of cattle-grids; and to what highway authorities he has made known such representations.

Mr. Marples

In 1951, when I consulted them about a proposed circular to highway authorities on the provision of cattle-grids the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommended that the gaps between bars should not exceed 4 inches, and the depth of the pits should not exceed 6 inches. Different views were expressed on these points by other bodies consulted. Since then I can trace only one communication from the Society on this subject. It was on a minor point and did not call for a circular to highway authorities.

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that cattle-grids with pits underneath the bars more than six inches deep, with angle-iron bars fixed with gaps between the bars more than four inches in width, and with gaps at each side wide enough to tempt men and animals to attempt to pass, such as the cattle-grids at Minchinhampton and Selsley Commons, are dangerous; and whether he accepts legal responsibility for injuries and accidents caused by this type of grid on roads for which he is responsible.

Mr. Marples

I do not accept that grids designed in accordance with my Department's advice are dangerous. The five inches gap between bars is consistent with the advice given by my hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in a leaflet about cattle-grids on private roads. This recommends a clear space of five inches between round bars or tubes, and of six inches where rolled steel joists are used. It also recommends a depth of pit of not less than ten inches, as there is some reason to think that stock are tempted to escape if the pit is shallower. I agree that a gap at the side of a grid between the grid and the side fence is undesirable. The circular issued in 1951 does not mention this point, but the drawing appended to it, showing the layout of a cattle-grid, clearly indicates that no gap should be left between the sides of the grid and the fences. Legal responsibility for accidents at a cattle-grid must depend upon the circumstances of the case, and I cannot commit myself on hypothetical circumstances. I am not the highway authority for the roads in which the cattle-grids near Stroud have been placed.

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that cattle-grids recently installed near Selsley and Minchinhampton Commons are properly lit at night.

Mr. Marples

Reflectors are installed on the upright posts at all the grids in question. Grant has also been offered to the responsible highway authority towards the installation of artificial lighting at the grid in Market Street, Nailsworth.

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport what is the cost of each cattle-grid recently installed, on roads for which he is responsible, near Selsley and Minchinhampton Commons; how many tenders were received; from which firms they came; what prices were quoted; and what pattern of grid was proposed in each case.

Mr. Marples

The Gloucestershire County Council is the highway authority for the roads on which these grids were placed. They installed seven at a provisional cost of £4,200, towards which I contributed £2,050 grant.

The grids were of the standard approved design, except that the metal bars were welded to reduce noise. They were installed by direct labour: I cannot give details of the tenders for the component parts.

Mr. Kershaw

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for installing more cattle-grids in the Stroud area; of what type they will be; where they will be; how much they will cost; and what steps he is taking to ensure that they will be suitably planned, constructed, sited and lit.

Mr. Marples

None.