§ Viscount Lambtonasked the Minister of Transport in view of local inconvenience and, in bad weather, the impossibility of people living in the Alnwick vicinity being able to reach other stations, whether he will re-consider his decision to close Alnwick railway station to passenger traffic.
§ Mr. Tom FraserI have taken no such decision.
However, in accordance with the arrangement I announced in November, 1964 and after consulting the Northern Economic Planning Council and Board on the planning implications of the proposal, I have told the Railways Board that I have no objection to the publication of notice under section 56 of the Transport Act, 1962 of a proposal to close the Alnwick branch to passenger services. Such publication will set in motion the full statutory procedure for objection to and consideration of the proposal. My agreement indicates that I do not consider the proposal obviously unacceptable on planning grounds, but it in no way prejudges my eventual decision.