§ Sir G. de Freitasasked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the Broughton Parish Council's proposed lighting improvement for road safety on the A.43 at Broughton; what action she has taken on it; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CastleI have decided to use my powers under Section 83 of the Highways Act, 1959, to take full responsibility in future for the provision of new street lighting on trunk roads instead of contributing to the cost of lighting installed by local lighting authorities. I intend to begin136W work as soon as possible on a three-year programme for lighting 450 miles of trunk road. Schemes will be chosen by a method of assessment which takes account of the anticipated saving in accidents and of capital and operating costs. In urban areas I will, initially, appoint the existing local lighting authorities as my agents. In rural areas, county councils will act as my agents since I have no power to appoint as such the rural district or parish councils which are the local lighting authorities.
Consideration of the Broughton Parish Council's application for a contribution to its proposed lighting scheme for the A43 was deferred while the revised arrangements were being worked out. The scheme has now been evaluated according to the new method of assessment and we are writing to the parish council.