HC Deb 25 February 1896 vol 37 cc1044-5

On the Motion for the Second Reading of this Bill—

MR. T. LOUGH (Islington, W.)

said, he did not wish to adopt any hostile attitude towards the Bill, although it touched a subject which affected profoundly the interest of his constituency. The object of the Bill was to deal with a large tract of land which lies in the centre of his constituency, which belonged to the Corporation and which was at present used for a market. The Corporation acquired the land 45 years ago, when the district presented a very different appearance to what it did today. They built a large cattle market there, and now they knew the market was larger than was required. They therefore sought to sell some vacant land which had been preserved under the provisions set out in the Act. He desired to have an instruction to the Committee.

MR. SPEAKER

said the hon. Gentleman could not discuss an Instruction upon the Motion for the Second Reading.

Bill read 2a.

MR. LOUGH

said, he had put down an Instruction which would enable the Committee to appropriate the land for the purposes of an open space or recreation-ground. He did not anticipate there would be any disposition on the part of the Corporation of London to take a hostile attitude towards the Instruction, but he desired to explain that the circumstances which had arisen since the market was built made it almost absolutely essential for the life and health of the inhabitants of the district that this ground should be used as an open space. When the market was built there were fields around it, but now these had been built upon. Therefore, in order to enable the Committee to look into the matter, and if possible to allocate the vacant land as an open space, he begged to move:— That it be an Instruction to the Committee to take into their consideration the suitability of the unoccupied ground in the neighbourhood of the Cattle Market for the purposes of an open space and recreation-ground, and if necessary to make such provision in the Bill as would enable the same to be acquired for that purpose.

SIR REGINALD HANSON (City of London)

said, the promoters of the Bill, who had always been supporters of the acquisition of open spaces, were perfectly willing to accept the Instruction. It could not be expected that an Epping Forest could be established in Islington, but whatever the Corporation could do to meet the wishes of the population there they would do with pleasure.

Instruction agreed to.