§ MR. TATTON EGERTON (Cheshire, Knutsford)asked the First Commissioner of Works, Whether his attention has been called to a building under construction at Albert Gate with a frontage to the Park, and whether he has any power to restrict the height of 160 feet, to which it is to be carried; and, whether he has considered the probable injury which it will cause to the trees and shrubs and the roadway in the Park?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER (Mr. PLUNKET) (Dublin University)My attention has been called to the building under construction at Albert Gate, the height of which on the side facing the Park is, I understand, intended to be 130 feet. I fear that if that intention is carried out it will seriously interfere with the enjoyment by the public of that part of the Park, and I have communicated with the solicitors and architects to the undertaking, with a view to procuring some diminution of the height of the edifice; but I have not as yet received any satisfactory answer. I am advised that the Commissioners of Works have no power to interfere directly with anything the owners may do on their own land, but that indirectly we have a certain power, because the owners of the land have no such right of access of light from the Park as would prevent us from raising the Park wall, or erecting a screen which would intercept the light and view from the proposed building on the side of the Park. I should be very glad if public opinion could be brought to bear to assist us in protecting the Park from the threatened injury and disfigurement.