§ 27. Mr. Gresham cookeasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will construct an under-pass for north-south traffic under Hyde Park Corner so as to ease congestion of traffic leaving and entering Hyde Park.
§ Mr. WatkinsonThe London County Council, as the highway improvement authority, will be responsible for carrying out any scheme which may be agreed at Hyde Park Corner. No final decision has yet been reached on the layout best suited to this site.
§ Mr. Gresham CookeWould my right hon. Friend bear in mind this suggestion which I have made? Is he aware that many Continental towns now are making a practice of using these under-passes? Might it not be a very sensible thing to have one from Hyde Park down to Grosvenor Place?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI do not disagree with that, but I ought to say. in fairness, that because there has been a delay on the planning side in deciding what ought to be done here, I am spending a good deal of money elsewhere in London— at Notting Hill Gate and other places.
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that there exists in the archives of his Ministry a scheme for the general reorganisation of the traffic facilities at Hyde Park Corner? Is he not aware that this is one of the most disgraceful pieces of traffic muddle anywhere in London—it is utterly chaotic—and ought he not to authorise the London County Council to proceed with what is an urgently necessary traffic improvement?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am sure that the right hon. Gentleman. with his great knowledge, is aware that the future of something called the Decimus Burton Screen—the archway giving entrance to Hyde Park itself—is by no means certain. The fact is that that scheme which rests in the pigeon holes of my Ministry is no use until we get agreement on all these problems.