HC Deb 14 April 1842 vol 62 cc490-1
Mr. Borth-wick

after presenting a petition from Notting Hill and Kensington, complaining of the want of lights in the metropolitan roads, rose to bring forward the motion of which he had given notice, for leave to introduce a bill to enforce the better lighting of the metropolitan roads by the respective parishes through which they pass. He said, that he thought the present bill called for in consequence of railroads having diminished the tolls on the ordinary roads to such an extent that the commissioners had no longer the funds sufficient for repairing and lighting the roads. Accordingly the commissioners, on the 24th of May last, had given notice to the respective parishes that they would not continue to light the roads beyond the 29th of September following. Several parishes had taken the charge on themselves, but there was still a number of parishes in which two-thirds of the ratepayers had not come to the same agreement, and the consequence was that these parishes were left during night in a state of darkness and danger. In his opinion the parishes through which the roads passed, and not the passengers, ought to pay the expense, because the roads added considerably to the value of property in their neighbourhood. Not anticipating any opposition to his motion, he would merely state that he proposed to carry his purpose into effect by applying the pro visions of the act 3rd and 4th William 4th, ch. 90, making it compulsory on those parishes to light the roads according to the provisions of that act, and that the inspectors should be empowered to call on the overseers of the poor to make a rate for that purpose.

The Speaker

asked the hon. Member if he proposed to levy a rate on the several parishes?

Mr, Borthwick

Uundoubtedly, under the provisions of the 3rd and 4th William 4th.

The Speaker

said, that the bill in that case would be partly of a public and partly of a private nature, and the hon. Member would therefore have to give the notice required to be given in cases of private bills.

Mr. Borthwick

bowed to the decision of the Chair. With the consent of the House he would withdraw his motion, and give the proper notice.

Motion withdrawn.