§ MR. HORNIMAN (Chelsea)To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the tribunal of appeal in the case of an appeal by the owners of the premises Nos. 190–208, Pentonville Road against the certificate of the superintending architect of metropolitan buildings defining the general line of buildings on the north side of Pentonville Road between Southampton Street and North Street; whether he is aware that the effect of the decision will be to make it lawful to erect buildings 80 feet in height in place of the existing one-storey shops; and whether, in view of the desirability of wide thoroughfares and of the fact that the advisory board of engineers, in their Report to the Royal Commission on London Traffic, pointed out that an Act of Parliament of 1756 enacted that no buildings should be erected within 50 feet of the sides of the Pentonville, Euston, and Marylebone Roads, and urged that the principle on which the Act was based should now be acted on, he can see his way to take 1527 immediate action to prevent the air space and width of thoroughfares like the Pentonville Road being seriously diminished.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to this Question. I have made inquiry on the subject to which it relates, and understand that the facts are substantially as stated. I am, however, informed that the tribunal of appeal expressed their willingness to state a case for the opinion of the High Court on a question of law, and that the London County Council are taking steps to get a case stated. I have myself no powers in relation to the width of streets in London.