§ GENERAL BUCKLEYsaid, he would beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether some plan cannot be adopted to prevent the dangerous traffic that exists at Park Lane into Piccadilly, either by widening the street or causing some other way that the traffic may be diverted. He put the question to the right hon. Gentleman in consequence of an accident which occurred last Saturday when a cab was overturned by an omnibus. He believed Park Lane to be the most dangerous corner in London, and from inquiries which he had made of the inhabitants he had ascertained that an accident occurred there nearly every day. He wished to add to his Question an inquiry as to whether some of the Police could not be placed at the spot in order to assist in the regulation of the traffic?
MR. COWPERSir, the narrowness of Park Lane is manifestly and obviously the cause of great inconvenience and occasional danger. Whatever can be done by regulation of traffic is already accomplished by the presence of two policemen who are generally employed in preventing any obstruction.
§ GENERAL BUCKLEYOne of them told me that he had no orders.
MR. COWPERI am afraid my hon. and gallant Friend must have fallen in with a policeman who was not on duty, as I am assured by the Commissioners of Police that one policeman is employed in preventing obstructions, while the other was at no great distance, who might be available if any particular obstruction arose. The real remedy is to be found either in widening Park Lane, or in having a new street through Hamilton Place. One thing I cannot admit is, that my hon. and gallant Friend has any right to address this question to me. Park Lane is not Crown property; therefore I would 364 request my hon. and gallant Friend to address his Question to those who represent the Metropolitan Board of Works, whoever they may be, because Parliament having constituted a body who have special care over the streets and ways of the metropolis, I think it most proper that the representatives of that body should take this matter into their serious consideration, as the powers of taxation of that body enable them to widen the streets or make a new one, so as to enable the traffic to have a larger and wider outlet. There have been suggestions made that Hyde Park should be used for public vehicles instead of Park Lane. Now, to that I entirely demur, because, instead of getting rid of the inconvenience of the obstruction, it would simply divert it from one place to another. I think, indeed, that the inconvenience would be more severely felt at Hyde Park Corner, just where the carriages leave the Park, than at present. Having consulted the Commissioners of Police on the subject, they are of opinion, that such a change would by no means either remove the danger or the inconvenience and obstruction; therefore to that alternative I must put a decided negative.
§ GENERAL BUCKLEYsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he could interfere in the matter?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYI am not the representative of the Metropolitan Board of Works. I would suggest that the hon. and gallant Member put his Question to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Tite).
§ MR. TITEI have no right to answer for the Metropolitan Board of Works, or to speak authoritatively; but I am a member of the Board, and I can say that the matter has been under consideration. A good many local difficulties exist, but I hope in a short time we shall be able to overcome them. All I can say is that it is a subject of grave consideration, and we will do our best to remove the obstructions complained of.