§ Lord Donaldson of Kingsbridgeasked Her Majesty's Government:
(i) whether a single company was the owner of both the barges which collided with Battersea Bridge in the two recent accidents to the bridge; (ii) what will be the estimated cost of repairing the bridge in relation to each accident; (iii) what is the estimated cost to the public and to public transport authorities as a result of the two periods of closure; and (iv) what penalties by way of fines or damages can be obtained from the company or companies concerned towards meeting these costs.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
- (i) Yes.
- (ii) The estimated cost of repairing damage caused in the accident in September 1988 is £35,000. No estimates are yet available for the cost of repairing the more recent damage.
- (iii) This is primarily a matter for the London Borough of Wandsworth and for London Regional Transport.
- (iv) Under the Port of London Act 1968, if it was found that the master of the tug had navigated his vessel in a manner liable to cause injury or endanger the bridge, he could be fined up to £2,000 on summary conviction, or an unspecified sum on indictment. The question of damages is a civil matter.