49. Sir F. HALLasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the traffic delays which now occur in the vicinity of Victoria Station; 2102 and whether any measures are proposed to be taken to improve the existing state of things?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Proposals for the erection of direction signs, with a view to inducing traffic passing between Hyde Park Corner and Vauxhall Bridge, and between Chelsea, Sloane Square and Westminster Bridge, to use alternative routes which would avoid Victoria Station, have been submitted to me by the London Traffic Advisory Committee and the necessary arangements for the erection of such direction signs are in hand. In addition, the Advisory Committee are considering whether any further steps can be taken to relieve the traffic congestion at Victoria Station itself.
§ Colonel DAYIs it not a fact that the greater part of the congestion is caused through the best part of the station being taken up by the bus station?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI do not think so.
§ Commander BELLAIRSCould not traffic be facilitated in the neighbourhood of Victoria Station if the road were widened round Grosvenor Gardens?
§ Colonel ASHLEYAll these considerations are being gone into.
§ 48. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Transport whether he has any information to give to the House with regard to the working of the new traffic plans in Piccadilly and at Hammersmith; and whether, if successful, other congested districts are to be dealt with in a similar manner?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe revised traffic arrangements in Piccadilly, Piccadilly Circus and neighbourhood, and also at Hammersmith Broadway, are reported to be working satisfactorily, but these experiments have not been in operation sufficiently long to enable definite conclusions to be reached as to the final form which the arrangements will assume. In the case of Piccadilly Circus, the full benefit of the new system will nor be secured until the street works in connection with the Underground Railway extensions and the various re-building operations in the neighbourhood are com- 2103 pleted. Proposals for somewhat similar alterations in the traffic working at Knightsbridge, Sloane Square, and other congested centres, are under consideration by the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee.
§ Colonel DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say when the electric signals will be working?
§ Colonel ASHLEYOn Monday next.