HL Deb 11 December 1963 vol 253 cc1316-8WA
LORD STONHAM

asked Her Majesty's Government:

If, having regard to their acceptance of the recommendation in the Buchanan Report to foster the increased use of public transport in urban areas, and conurbations, they will give instructions for the suspension of any action to close railway lines which serve such areas, and/or carry commuter traffic; and, in particular, that they will suspend closure procedure on the following lines proposed for closure in The Reshaping of British Railways:

Glasgow-Carlisle: Edinburgh-Carstairs-Lanark: Glasgow-Dumfries-Carlisle: Glasgow-Lugton-Kilmarnock: Glasgow-Dalry-Kilmarnock: Glasgow-Edinburgh: Edinburgh-Berwick upon Tweed: Edinburgh-Dunbar: Edinburgh-Hawick-Carlisle: Glasgow-Stirling-Perth: Glasgow-Stirling-Oban: Aberdeen-Inverurie: Aberdeen-Keith-Elgin: Aberdeen-Fraserburgh: Aberdeen-Ballater: Glasgow-Barrhead: Glasgow-East Kilbride: Glasgow-Kilmacolm: Glasgow-Paisley West: Coatbridge-Dumbarton: Edinburgh-Kingsknowe: Glasgow-Kirkintilloch: Edinburgh-Musselburgh: Doncaster-Leeds: Selby-Goole: York-Hull: Hull-Hornsea: Hull-Withernsea: Leeds-Castleford-Pontefract: Leeds-Knottingley: Wakefield-Goole: Bradford-Batley-Wakefield: Leeds-Pudsey-Bradford: Bradford-Mirfield-Huddersfield: Bradford-Halifax-Huddersfield: Huddersfield-Clayton-Penistone: Leeds-Bradford-Ilkley-Skipton: Leeds-Bradford-Keighley-Skipton: Leeds-Shipley-Bradford: Leeds-Cudworth-Sheffield: Leeds-Cross Gates-Micklefield: Middlesbrough-Guisborough: Middlesbrough-Whitby-Scarborough: York-Harrogate: Leeds-Harrogate-Northallerton-Darlington: Darlington-Richmond: Sunderland-Durham-Bishop Auckland: Sunderland-West Hartlepool: Newcastle on Tyne-Washington: Newcastle on Tyne-Riverside-Tynemouth: York - Sheffield - Nottingham-Leicester-Banbury: Crewe-Warrington-Preston-Carlisle: Wellingborough - Northampton: Leamington Spa-Coventry-Nuneaton: Derby-Tamworth - Birmingham: Wolverhampton-Burton on Trent: Wellington-Shrewsbury: Stafford-Wellington: Crewe-Chester: Chester-Holyhead: Manchester-Warrington-Chester: Wrexham-Chester-New Brighton: Liverpool-Chester: Manchester-Buxton: Stoke on Trent-Silverdale: Stockport-Stalybridge: Liverpool-Tyldesley-Patricroft-Manchester: St. Helens-Earlestown-Warrington: Manchester-Huddersfield: Wigan-Fazakerley-Liverpool: Glazebrook - Stockport: Blackpool - Fleetwood: Manchester-Bury-Bacup: Manchester-Bury-Accrington-Colne: Southport-Preston: Barrow -Whitehaven: Leicester-Nottingham: Manchester-Chinley-Derby: Manchester-Chinley-Hope-Sheffield: Leicester-Burton on Trent: Leicester-Melton Mowbray: Derby-Nottingham: Derby-Trent-Nottingham: Nottingham-Worksop: Derby-Sheffield: London-Richmond: Watford-Croxley Green: Harrow-Wealdstone-Belmont: Watford-St. Albans: Walsall-Rugeley: Birmingham-Sutton-Walsall: Walsall-Dudley: Manchester-Tyldesley-Wigan: Manchester - Stalybridge - Greenfield: Manchester-Newton Heath-Middleton: Manchester -Horwich: Liverpool - St. Helens - Wigan: Manchester-Bury: Southport-Crossens: Liverpool-Southport: Lancaster-Heysham: Manchester-Hadfield: Manchester-Romiley-Hayfield: London-Barking: Barton on Humber-New Holland: New Holland-Cleethorpes: Sheffield-Nottingham: Romford-Upminster: Bristol - Bath: Barry - Bridgend: Cardiff-Coryton: Caerphilly-Senghenydd: Berkeley-Sharpness: Swan Village-Great Bridge: Old Hill-Dudley: West Drayton-Staines: Bristol-Portishead: Bristol-Avonmouth Dock: Bristol-Patchway-Pilning: Bristol-Clifton DownPilning: Cardiff Clarence Road - Cardiff General: Ashford (Kent)-Hastings: Three Bridges-Tunbridge Wells: Tonbridge-Brighton: Tonbridge-Eastbourne: Brighton-Horsham: Guildford-Horsham: Exeter-Exmouth: Portsmouth-Botley-Romsey-Andover: Portsmouth-Netley - Southampton - Romsey - Andover: Reading - Guildford - Redhill - Tonbridge: Clapham-Kensington.

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)

No. Each line will have to be looked at individually, and much of the information needed for a correct decision will emerge only during the course of the closure procedure laid down by Statute. In any case, many of the passenger services listed by the noble Lord cannot be regarded as suburban or commuter services in the major urban areas and conurbations. At least one of them has actually been closed without the lodging of any objection from users. My right honourable friend, the Minister of Transport, will, however, in considering any closure proposals which come to him for decision, have very much in mind the importance of public transport in the major urban areas. As he has already said, my right honourable friend will have before him in appropriate cases the views of local authorities and others concerned with transport surveys. If in any particular urban area it appears to my right honourable friend that the closure of a service would conflict with the right overall solution, he will refuse his consent to it. If he finds he has insufficient information to judge, he will not hesitate to commission further studies.

House adjourned at twenty-eight minutes before nine o'clock.