§ MR. HOWARD VINCENT (Sheffield, Central)asked the First Commissioner of Works if any inconvenience had resulted from the boon granted in 1887 to the public by His Royal Highness the Ranger of general use of the road between Storey's Gate and Marlborough Gate; and if, having regard to the loss of time caused to persons engaged in trade and to their employés by prohibiting the use of the wide roadway known as Birdcage Walk "by cart, waggon, dray, truck, wheelbarrow, or other vehicle used for the conveyance of merchandise," in passing to and from the southwestern district, and to the pressure of traffic and inconvenience caused thereby in Victoria Street and other adjacent thoroughfares, some modification, temporary or otherwise, of the existing regulations is possible?
§ THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) University of DublinNo inconvenience, but, on the contrary, great public convenience has resulted from the opening in 1887 of the road between Storey's Gate and Marlborough Gate; but I must point out that it is only opened to the lighter class of traffic. As to the proposal contained in the second part of my hon. Friend's question, I cannot say that I 477 think it could be adopted with advantage to the public. At present the heavy traffic journeying between Westminster and Buckingham Gate can, and does to a great extent, travel by James Street, York Street, Tothill Street, and Broad Sanctuary. Only 100 out of 1,200 yards could be saved if it were to take the Birdcage Walk route instead, while the advantage of having a separate line for the quicker traffic—a great advantage, I think, on roads as well as railways—would be lost.