§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGasked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether his attention has been drawn to the congested state of the traffic at Hyde Park Corner; and, if he has any objection to state to the House any plans he may have for facilitating its passage at that spot?
MR. SHAW LEFEVERSir, I have been for some time past considering the best mode of providing a remedy for the difficulty at Hyde Park Corner, where the gravest complaints have been made of the danger and inconvenience to the public. With this object I have carefully considered all the many schemes which during the last 10 years have been devised at the Office of Works, or proposed to it from other quarters. The plan which I have selected, and which I propose to carry out, is one which was suggested some years ago by the Secretary to the Office of Works. A line will be drawn from Hamilton Place to Halkin Street, and this, it is proposed, shall be the future boundary of the Green Park; the land between this and the entrance to Hyde Park, and bounded by Piccadilly and Grosvenor Place, will be laid out as an open platz, intersected by such roads as may be necessary, and having in its centre ornamental gardens. This plan will involve the removal of the Wellington Arch from its present position to the point where Constitution Hill will end in the future, and 142 where it will form the entrance gate to the Green Park. There will be broad roads from Hamilton Place to Halkin Street and to Grosvenor Crescent, and Piccadilly and Grosvenor Place may be widened to whatever extent may be necessary. The cost of this scheme is estimated at from £28,000 to £29,000. As the improvement is a Metropolitan one, the Government has thought that the burden of it should not fall upon the general taxpayers. I have, therefore, been in communication with the Metropolitan Board on the subject; and, although the matter has not yet been before the full Board, I have every reason to believe that the Board will contribute £20,000 to the scheme. The Duke of Westminster, who always takes a generous view of his position as a great landowner in London, has also offered £3,000 towards the scheme. The Commissioners of Woods and Forests, as owners of property in Hamilton Place and Piccadilly, will also contribute to the scheme, and I shall submit a Vote to the House for the remainder. I have not yet communicated with the Vestry upon whom the charge of the roads will fall; but I apprehend there will be no objection in this quarter. I have only to add that I will place to-morrow morning in the Library of the House a model showing the alterations intended; and I have great hopes it will be recognized not merely as a complete remedy for the evils complained of, but as forming a new and a fine feature in that part of the Metropolis.