HC Deb 07 July 1879 vol 247 c1718
MR. FAWCETT

asked the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, Whether, considering that sanction was given by Parliament in 1877 to the construction by the Metropolitan Board of Works of a new street from Charing Cross to Tottenham Court Road, he can inform the House when the street will be commenced, and what is the probable time that will be required for its completion?

SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGG

am sorry to say that I am unable to give my hon. Friend the information he seeks. I may, however, remind him that the street from Charing Cross to Tottenham Court Road is but one of 12 improvements sanctioned by the Act of 1877, some of which are now far advanced, many hundred claims having been received and settled. The Charing Cross improvement has not yet been dealt with; and I may mention that, in consequence of the stringent clauses in the Act of Parliament requiring the Board to procure the erection of buildings to accommodate 5,497 of the labouring classes who will be displaced in this and the other western improvements, much difficulty will be experienced in carrying into effect the powers of the Act, unless nearly all the building sites fronting the new street are appropriated to the purpose and disposed of at a mere fractional part of their market value, a course of proceeding which, I venture to think, was never contemplated by Parliament, and which would spoil the appearance of what ought to be one of the finest thoroughfares in the Metropolis. The Board, I may add, have been in communication with the Home Secretary on the subject; and I hope some progress may soon be made in an improvement for which the Metropolis is so much indebted to my hon. Friend.