§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Transport how many vehicles it was estimated would have made use of the bus station at Longroyd Bridge, Huddersfield, as a heavy goods vehicle-testing station.
§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Transport (1) why a heavy goods vehicle testing station is not being set up in Huddersfield, in view of the assurance given to the Association of British Chambers of Commerce in 1967, and the fact that the nearest heavy goods vehicle testing station to Huddersfield will now be 25 miles away from the one originally proposed at Longroyd Bridge, Huddersfield;
(2) why no consultation took place with interested organisations before a decision was taken not to use the bus station at Longroyd Bridge, Huddersfield, as a heavy goods vehicle-testing station;
(3) why no heavy goods vehicle-testing station is being set up in the south-west of the West Riding of Yorkshire.
§ Mr. MarshThe initial plan, in consultation with the operators' Associations, for location of goods vehicle testing stations in the West Riding did not envisage one at Huddersfield. But in April, 1966, the Huddersfield Corporation offered the use of facilities in their bus depot at Longroyd Bridge, which were accepted as very little capital outlay would have been involved in return for added convenience to goods vehicle operators in the area.
At the end of February this year, because of a proposed reorganisation, the 178W Corporation had to withdraw the offer. In the circumstances, we invited the operator's Associations to suggest means by which facilities in the Huddersfield area could be provided without heavy capital outlay. I understand their inquiries are continuing.
The nearest testing station to Huddersfield is about 17 miles away at Rothwell, Leeds. Testing stations are also being provided at Walton (York), Steeton (Keighley), Doncaster, Sheffield, Bred-bury and Heywood (Manchester).