Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of the general inconvenience experienced by all sections of the travelling public in consequence of the inadequacy of a canal bridge on the main road, Doncaster Road, Mexborough; who is responsible for the maintenance or strengthening of the same to meet presentday transport requirements and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to widening and strengthening the bridge as early as possible?
§ Mr. GOSLINGI presume the hon. Member's question refers to the bridge known as Pasture Bridge over the Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company's canal between exborough and Conisborough. My attention has already been drawn to the inconvenience caused by the restrictions on traffic seeking to use the bridge which at present is maintainable by the Navigation Company. After considerable negotiation, arrangements have now been made for the reconstruction of the bridge to meet modern requirements by the county council, with the aid of a grant from the Road Fund and a contribution from the Navigation Company. After reconstruction the bridge will be maintained as a county bridge.