§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)To ask the hon. Member for North Hunts whether he will explain why the Office of Works has parted with a portion of Bushey Park to the United Tramways Company, Limited; and seeing that land needed to widen the road for a tramway might have been purchased by the Company on the opposite side of it, he will state whether the strip of Bushey Park was sold to the Company for a price equivalent to that which the Company would have had to pay for the same accommodation on the other side of the road.
(Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) There has been no sale of land to the 1187 United Tramways Company. The Office of Works is, however, disposed to entertain a proposal, which is strongly supported by the local authorities, for setting back the fence of Bushey Park for some distance along the tramway line where the road would be dangerously narrow. A piece of timbered land, of larger area than that to be thrown into the roadway, would be added to the Park free of charge, a substantial permanent fence would be erected along the new frontage line of the Park, and all structures would be reinstated free of expense to the Crown. There are various precedents for the widening of roads skirting the Royal Parks, to meet the wishes of the local authorities for the safety of the public.