HC Deb 20 April 1874 vol 218 c818
MR. THOMPSON

asked the First Commissioner of Works, If he will open the drives in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens to public conveyances between the hours of 7 and 9 P.M. during the summer months?

LORD HENRY LENNOX

, in reply, said, he must first apologize for his unavoidable absence from the House on Friday last. He wished to point out that, apparently, the hon. Member was under a misapprehension, as there were, in fact, no drives in Kensington Gardens. The only part which came under that category was the road between Queen's and Alexandra Gates, which was annexed to Kensington Gardens at the time of the building of the Memorial to the Prince Consort. Again, the part of the Park which was available for public conveyance was open from 5 A.M. till midnight, and the introduction of public conveyances to other parts of the Park could only be effected by a new rule, which, under the provision of the Parks Regulation Act, would have to be submitted for the approval of Parliament; and, having a lively recollection of the reception which that Act met with in its passage through the House, he had no intention of entering upon such debate-able ground.