§ Mr. Cyril Smithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers in relation to the provision of pedestrian crossings on inner city roads of his Department and of the county councils.
§ Mr. HoramI have been asked to reply.
Section 21 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1967 provides for county councils to submit schemes for the establishment of pedestrian crossings in their areas. My right hon. Friend may approve these with or without modification. If a council fails to execute a scheme, my right hon. Friend may carry it out and recover the cost. Under section 22 it is his duty to establish such crossings as he considers necessary on trunk roads. Section 23 empowers him to make regulations governing the movement of traffic, including pedestrians, at or near crossings and the markings, devices and signs used in connection with crossings.
At present, the "Pelican" Pedestrian Crossings Regulations and General Directions 1969 require the siting of each pelican crossing to be approved, but my right hon. Friend proposes to relinquish this control shortly.