§ Sir W. DAVISON (by Private Notice)asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he has under consideration the surrender of any portion of the Green Park for the purpose of widening Piccadilly; what is the extent of the ground proposed to be surrendered; and whether there are any trees growing upon it?
§ Mr. LANSBURYI have been asked to consider, in connection with a scheme for the widening of Piccadilly west of the Ritz Hotel, the surrender of a very small strip of land in the Green Park. The existing lavatories would be set back and the line of the park railings readjusted, so that not only would the roadway be widened but the existing omnibus stop at the Ritz Hotel could be removed to a point west of the proposed new tube station. In this way, the present serious congestion of traffic would be relieved. 29 The strip of park laud which would be surrendered is about 125 yards long and is 9 feet in width at the maximum depth No trees will be affected except two small planes which it will be necessary to remove in any case in the construction of the new station. With Mr. Speaker's permission, I will arrange for a plan illustrating the proposals to be shown in the Tea Room.
§ Colonel ASHLEYIs not the congestion in Piccadilly West caused by the block in Piccadilly between the Ritz Hotel and Berkeley Hotel?
§ Mr. LANSBURYI think the congestion is due to the very big stream of traffic coming down from the side of what used to be Devonshire House. In any case, there is congestion outside the hotel.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman consider a proposal to make an underground passage for traffic between Berkeley Square and Green Park so as to relieve congestion in Piccadilly caused by the cross traffic going north and south?
§ Mr. LANSBURYNo, I think not.