HC Deb 23 May 1940 vol 361 c316W
Mr. Thorne

asked the Minister of Transport for what reason iron railings are being erected on the Kingston by-pass; what length of railing has been erected; the extent to which these railings are to be put up; the cost of material and labour involved; and whether, in view of the demand for economy and reservation of iron for our war effort, he will arrange for the immediate cancellation of this work and take steps to have replanted the flowering trees that have been uprooted to make room for the railings?

Sir J. Reith

Orders had been placed before the war broke out for the erection of 7,500 yards of railings on the Kingston by-pass in the interests of public safety, to prevent pedestrians crossing the dual carriageway except at specified points. It is, of course, agreed that in present circumstances work of this kind should not be allowed to proceed, and the present work consists only in the finishing off of the small section now in hand, after which no further work of this kind will be undertaken. The total cost of the work when completed is estimated to be approximately £4,000, of which one-third would be for labour on the site.