§ Mr. ARNOLD WARDasked the Postmaster-General whether work is now proceeding on the erection of telephone poles in the narrow part of High Street, Bushey; whether such work is being carried out in spite of the unanimous opposition of the inhabitants of Bushey; whether protests against the work have been addressed to him through various representative 413W channels; whether he is aware that the erection of these poles will in some cases diminish the width of the footway to about two feet nine inches, and so cause hindrance and inconvenience to the users of the footway; whether he is aware that the roadway at this point has dangers, in consequence of which the Local Government Board has imposed a ten-mile limit upon motor cars, and that the telephone poles will add to the dangers; whether he is aware that the erection of the poles is calculated to disfigure the appearance of the High Street, damage the popularity of Bushey as a place of residence and resort for artists, and consequently gravely injure its trade and business; whether he is aware that the consent of the road authority to the erection of the poles was obtained in consequence of the absence through illness of the late representative of Bushey on the Hertfordshire County Council from the deliberations of that body; whether he is aware that the residents of Bushey do not entertain any objection to the laying of the wires underground; and whether he will give effect to the unanimous desire of the inhabitants by ordering the discontinuance of the work?
§ Mr. HERBERT SAMUELAn ærial line along the present route has been in existence for some years, and is being renewed on poles in positions fixed after consultation with the road authority. I have received protests against the work, but I have no reason to believe that it will have the effects referred to in the question. I am dealing further with the hon. Member's question in a letter replying to one he has sent me on the same subject.