HC Deb 04 March 1859 vol 152 cc1276-8
MR. KINNAIRD

said, he would beg to ask the Chief Commissioner of Works whether he is prepared to recommend and to carry out the widening of the passage leading from Spring Gardens and Cockspur Street into St. James's Park, so as to allow carriages and persons on horseback to enter and leave the Park by that route, the Metropolitan Board of Works having announced their intention of immediately widening so much of the said passage as fronts Berkeley House. A favourable opportunity now occurred for carrying out the recommendation of a Committee of the House of Commons, that a passage should he opened for carriages into the Park from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross, as it appeared that the Board of Works had purchased Berkeley House of Lord Fitzhardinge, which was about to be pulled down, and the Board offered the public a space twenty-five feet in breadth free of cost. He was sure Her Majesty would readily give her consent to the great improvement recommended by the Committee. As in this country, time was money, the passage would be an advantage to everybody.

LORD JOHN MANNERS

said, he ad- mitted that any plan that removed carriages from the crowded streets would facilitate the traffic, but there was great reason to doubt whether, taking the carriages from the streets to put them into a Royal Park, was an arrangement that would conduce to the comfort of the people. The Committee that recommended the opening of the passage, stated also that any considerable increase in the traffic of the Royal Parks, would be very objectionable. It was only by the casting vote of the Chairman of the Committee that the recommendation of the opening of this particular passage was carried. He mentioned the fact to show that other members of the Committee did not take the same view as the hon. Gentleman. But the question deserved mature consideration, and he could assure the hon. Gentleman it should receive it.

MR. TITE

said, that Berkeley House had been taken by the Metropolitan Board for the erection of offices, and it was intended that the new buildings in the passage leading from Spring Gardens and Cockspur Street into St. James's Park should be set back in a line with Spring Gardens, and then turn in an obtuse angle into the line of Carlton Terrace, the effect of which would be to shorten the passage from 300 to 200 feet, and throw a portion of land into the Park, making the passage of the width of twenty-two feet. What had been suggested by the hon. Member for Perth was, that it would be easy, having effected that purpose, to carry the improvement further, as taking down one house would give an additional Width of twenty-five feet, and make a street into the Park forty-seven feet wide. The house was the property of the Government; and its removal would open a communication at once with Belgravia, the Palace, and all that part of the town, without having to pass round by Pall Mall. The improvement of the twenty-two feet passage would be at once put in operation and carried into effect. Berkeley House was advertised for sale on Tuesday next, and it would be immediately pulled down; and he had no doubt whatever that the very desirable improvement of which he had spoken would be given up to the use of the public within six months from this period, and without expense to the public.

SIR JOHN SHELLEY

said, he wished to say a word in relation to what had fallen from the noble Lord opposite (Lord John Manners). The noble Lord intimated that this improvement was only carried by the casting vote of the Chairman; but the same thing occurred with regard to the bridge over the water in the Park. That was now acknowledged by all to be a great public improvement, and he believed that so also would be the proposed widening of the entrance to the Park now under discussion.