HC Deb 24 July 1868 vol 193 cc1711-2
MR. LABOUCHERE

said, he would beg to ask the hon. Member for Bath, Whether it is the intention of the Metropolitan Board of Works to give the necessary notices to the owners and occupiers of houses in Hamilton Place, in order to enable the next Parliament, should it think it expedient, to carry out the recommendations of the Private Bill Committee, to which was referred the Bill to widen and improve Park Lane?

COLONEL HOGG

said, as the hon. Genleman appeared to be under some misapprehension, he would state exactly what had been done in this matter. The first Bill brought into Parliament by the Metropolitan Board of Works for improving Park Lane was in the Session of 1865; its object was to open a new public road or street in continuation of Hamilton Place (Sec. 7). The deposited estimate of expense was £10,000. The Bill went into Committee, but the Preamble was declared not proved. A further Bill was brought into Parliament by the Board in the Session of 1866 to widen and improve Park Lane on the west side. The capital sought to be raised was £120,000. The deposited Bill was withdrawn by order of the Board on account of the state of the Session. A further Bill was brought into Parliament by the Board in the Session of 1867 for the same improvement as mentioned in the Bill of 1866; the proposed capital was £120,000. The Bill was never proceeded with in Committee. A further Bill was brought in by the Board this Session for the same improvement, the capital proposed being £115,000. This Bill went into Committee, who declared the Preamble not to have been proved. The Metropolitan Board were, therefore, in some sort of difficulty. They had several meetings on the subject, and the matter had been referred to the surveyor to go into the matter thoroughly. That gentleman had now been about three weeks engaged on it, and expected to report next week about the various schemes and expenses. What the decision of the Board would be it was impossible for him to say, but he could assure the hon. Gentleman that they would endeavour next year to bring in some Bill or other for opening up Park Lane, and making it more convenient for the public than it was at present.