§ LORD ERNEST BRUCEasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether it is now in his power to propose a plan for relieving the traffic at Hyde Park Corner and opening a communication between Piccadilly and Belgravia, which has so long been desired for the convenience of the public?
LORD HENRY LENNOXI am happy, Sir, to say that, after long, minute, and anxious consideration, I have approved a plan for the relief of the traffic at Hyde Park Corner by making a road across the Green Park, from opposite Hamilton Place into Grosvenor Place. This road will follow nearly the same track as that of the unfortunate one upon which I staked my reputation last summer, and which was shown on the model which was exhibited in the Conference Room last Session, and which met generally with the approval of hon. Members. The entrance of the road in Piccadilly will be very wide, and so shaped as to enable the traffic coming from the east and north-east of London to make use of this road on its way to Victoria Station and its neighbourhood, without clashing with the carriages coming down Hamilton Place. The engineering difficulties which led to the abandonment of my former scheme will be avoided in this instance by crossing Constitution Hill on the level. At the same time, I may say that arrangements will bemade, by means of a gatekeeper, to prevent any inconvenience arising from the traffic to members of the Royal Family, to equestrians, and to those Members of both Houses of Parliament who have a right to use Constitution Hill. I may add that the head of the police force, 1274 to whom is entrusted the regulation of the traffic at Hyde Park Corner, is of opinion that the proposed road will afford an immense relief to the block which now causes so much inconvenience at that portion of Piccadilly.
§ MR. MUNTZinquired whether he correctly understood the noble Lord to say that Members of Parliament had a right to the use of Constitution Hill?
LORD HENRY LENNOXsaid, he had intended to refer only to those Members of Parliament who had the right.