Dr. Bennettasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the obstruction to traffic caused on 24th June by a road vehicle carrying a naval aircraft which became jammed in Quay Street, Fareham; if he is aware that this is a recurrent type of incident; and if he will route such outsize vehicles through busy roads at other than peak hours of traffic.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingWhenever possible, damaged aircraft going long106W distances are taken by sea to avoid congestion of the roads. A road journey to a jetty is, however, unavoidable. These aircraft are always moved at the direction of the police, with whom times and routes are agreed and who escort them through towns. I understand that the police regard movement by day as safer than movement by night and try to time the movements to avoid peak traffic hours.
In this instance, the aircraft was being taken to Foxbury Jetty for sea transit to Scotland, according to an agreed schedule, on roads which have been found after survey to be the best ones. The trailer was unfortunately prevented by parked cars from negotiating a corner into Quay Street, Fareham.
While I greatly regret the inconvenience caused, I believe that such an incident is very rare indeed.