RESOLUTION. (Hansard, 28 May 1872)

§ MR. CAVENDISH BENTINCK

rose to move the following Resolution:— That, in the opinion of this House, it would conduce to the convenience of the public if a carriage communication were opened between Queen Square, Westminster, Birdcage Walk, and St. James's Street. As it was very probable some Official would get up and move that the House be counted before he had proceeded far with his remarks, he should make them as brief as possible. In 1869, when Mr. Layard was Chief Commissioner of Works, he (Mr. C. Bentinck)had brought up this question, and suggested that a suspension bridge should be erected over 816 the Ornamental Water in St. James's Park, which would shorten the route to the House by no less than 500 yards. Nothing, however, was done. On a later occasion, since the present Chief Commissioner had taken office, he again raised the question in a modified form, proposing that a carriage communication should be established by the road already existing between Marlborough House and Storey's Gate. He regretted that no record of his Question or of the Chief Commissioner's Answer appeared in Hansard, although they were give at length in the newspapers next morning; but the answer was that he could not entertain any proposition to make a permanent thoroughfare through St. James's Park; but as it was contemplated to stop up part of King Street, and obstruction might therefore arise to the passage of Members through Parliament Street, he proposed the formation of a temporary road through St. James's Park. Later in the Session, however, the Chief Commissioner, in answer to the hon. Member for Cricklade (Mr. Cadogan) stated that it did not then appear that King Street was likely to be stopped up; that it was desirable to see the effect of the Thames Embankment in relieving the traffic through Parliament Street; and that, under existing circumstances, it was not desirable to interfere with the arrangements in regard to St. James's Park unless it should be found to be absolutely necessary. In March last Session the noble Lord the Member for Cambridge (Viscount Royston) again brought the subject under the notice of the House; and moved an Address to the effect that the road by the east-end of St. James's Park might be opened for carriage traffic from Marlborough House to Storey's Gate. The Chief Commissioner, in reply, said that no present necessity had arisen for making a public thoroughfare through the Park; but that King Street being now shut up such a contingency as he had contemplated last Session had occurred, and the opening of such a road would be a convenience to hon. Members; but the road would be opened for the convenience of Members only. He (Mr. C. Bentinck), however, went back to his original plan, which had been approved by Sir Benjamin Hall. The bridge would only be 800 feet, and the estimated cost was £25,000. The scheme had commended itself to the late Sir 817 John Thwaites, to the Duke of Somerset, and to the right hon. Baronet the Member for Morpeth (Sir George Grey), all of whom were in its favour. It had been objected to on the ground that the Imperial taxation was asked to pay for an object which benefited local interests. He maintained strongly that that was not so. London improvements were always of great advantage to country visitors, and especially those improvements which promoted facilities for getting better access to the various railway stations. Another scheme would be the removal of the gates and iron railings at Queen's Square, the expense of which the inhabitants had offered, so long ago as the 8th July, 1868, to defray themselves, after asking the Ranger for his sanction to the formation of the carriage roadway. They received a generous answer, referring them to the Chief Commissioner of Works.