§ Mr. Alisonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many accidents involving motor vehicles fouling the railway line at its junction in Malton with Norton Road have occurred in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976 to the latest date available;
(2) what was the date, the purpose of, and the attendance at a site meeting of 343W police and departmental officials in Malton, at the junction of the railway line and the crossing of it by Norton Road, in early December 1975; and what conclusions and current recommendations resulting from the meeting are now being applied.
§ Mr. MarksNo accidents have been reported under statute as occurring at Malton station public level crossing in the period quoted. There were, I understand, three incidents in 1975 and one in 1976 in which a motor was being driven on to the railway line whilst the barriers were raised. In no case was there any personal injury or any danger of an accident occuring, since the barriers are interlocked with the railway signals and under the control of the signalman.
A meeting was held at the site on 11th December 1975, attended by representatives of my Department, the British Railway Board, the North Yorkshire County Council, and the North Yorkshire Police to determine the cause of these incidents, all of which occurred after dark. Recommendations to improve the lighting and road marking at the crossing are now being progressed.