§ MR. GODDARDsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, Whether there is any probability of the long-pending arrangements with reference to improving the approaches to Park Lane from Piccadilly being shortly carried out, and which the large and increasing traffic through that narrow thoroughfare, as well as the improvements already effected in the upper portions of it, renders so very desirable on behalf of the public interests?
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, he must refer the hon. Member to what happened two years ago, when the Metropolitan Board of Works promoted a Bill, for opening Hamilton Place, which was referred to a Committee, by whom it was rejected, and a year ago when another Bill on the subject and two other Metropolitan Improvement Bills were referred to a Select Committee, presided over by the 2138 hon. Member for the Tower Hamlets, which recommended that a new improvement rate should be coupled with the continuance of the Coal duties. The late Government were considering the proposal when the change of government occurred; the Session was then so far advanced that the present Government could not take the opinion of Parliament upon the financial part of the question, and they were, therefore, obliged to drop the Bill. This year a Select Committee, to which the Bill for widening Park Lane was referred, rejected it, and recommended that Hamilton Place should be opened, and that the houses on its east side should be pulled down, in order to enable a roadway of sufficient width to be made. What course the Metropolitan Board of Works would be prepared to take in consequence of that recommendation of the Select Committee he could not say; but it would, he thought, be their duty to take the matter into their consideration.
§ SIR WILLIAM GALLWEYsaid, he wished to ask the First Commissioner of Works, although he had not given Notice of the Question, Whether, in any alterations that may be made, they will be so contrived as to avoid taking down half of Hamilton Place? He would suggest that an improvement might be made by removing a house and stables in Piccadilly, and running a new Street in a straight line from Piccadilly into Park Lane at Stanhope Gate.
§ LORD JOHN MANNERSsaid, the hon. Baronet has not given me Notice of his Question; but, so far at least as regards a part of it, I should imagine that it ought to be directed to one of the representatives of the Metropolitan Board of Works.