HC Deb 18 March 1890 vol 342 cc1139-40
MR. LABOUCHERE

I beg to ask the First Commissioner of Works whether it is a fact, as stated in the Minutes of the London County Council, that the Vestry of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster, has been offered a strip of Kensington Gardens between Alexandra Gate and Queen's Gate; and whether he proposes to obtain the sanction of Parliament by an Act before giving effect to this offer?

THE FIRST COMMISSIONER OF WORKS (Mr. PLUNKET,) Dublin University

I submitted some time ago a proposal to the Treasury for setting back the Alexandra Gates with a view to making egress and ingress at the point more easy; and at the same time I sub- mitted an offer on the part of the Vestry of St. Margaret and St. John, Westminster, to widen the road between Alexandra Gate and Queen's Gate, where the traffic is at present inconveniently congested, if the Crown would consent to set back the railings of Kensington Gardens at that point some 15ft. The space so separated from the park would be used as a pathway, and would not, I believe, in any way detract from the enjoyment of the park by the public. The space is at present under grass, and enclosed by railings. I recommended that this offer should be accepted, as I believe it would greatly facilitate traffic, and be no injury to the park. The Treasury have not yet given their decision. If they sanction the plan, it is not considered that an Act of Parliament would be necessary to enable the arrangement to be carried into effect. There have been several precedents for proceeding in such cases without legislation—e.g., the widening of Park Lane in 1866, the widening of Bayswater Road near the Marble Arch, 1869, and Hyde Park Corner improvement, 1882. In all these cases a Royal Warrant was considered sufficient.

MR. LABOUCHERE

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that, when a precisely similar proposal in regard to this very road was made, Mr. Ayrton, who then filled the office now held by the right hon. Gentleman, brought a Bill into the House of Commons and that Bill was thrown out by the House?

MR. PLUNKET

I do not think the case was exactly similar, but I will look into it.