§ 68. Mr. ALAN TODDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the complaints raised by shopkeepers, hotel keepers and residents in the Knightsbridge area because of the recent closing of Albert Gate, Hyde Park; and whether he is prepared to reopen this gate for a period of four months to test the quality of the recent closing experiment?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)Yes, Sir, and as my hon. Friend is aware, I received a deputation on this subject on the 6th instant from the Westminster City Council and the Chelsea Borough Council. I have given the most sympathetic consideration to the representations made by the deputation, but I have come to the conclusion that the gate should remain closed to vehicular traffic until further experience has been gained of the results of the experiment.
§ Mr. TODDMay I ask how long the right hon. Gentleman intends to close the gate under this experimental scheme?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThat has not been decided.
§ 69. Mr. TODDasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Albert Gate, Hyde Park, was closed in July last without reference to the councils of the city of Westminster, the borough of Chelsea, or the royal borough of Kensington; and whether he will take steps to see that in future some co-operation between his Department and the Metropolitan boroughs is forthcoming before such regulations are enforced?
§ Sir J. GILMOURIt is frequently the case that traffic questions cannot be decided solely, or even mainly, upon 378 purely local considerations; but, as I explained to the deputation from the Westminster City Council and the Chelsea Borough Council which I received on the 6th instant, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is at all times ready to consider the views of local authorities upon matters which affect them, and I do not think that any further action on my part is called for.