§ 21. Captain Pilkingtonasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what proposals he has for relieving traffic congestion at Victoria Gate and Alexandra Gate, Hyde Park.
§ Mr. WatkinsonI am discussing with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Works ways of relieving traffic congestion at these gates, and I hope to make an announcement in the near future.
§ Captain PilkingtonWhilst appreciating that my right hon. Friend has been doing and is doing a good deal to relieve traffic congestion in London, may I ask whether he would not agree that traffic is again seizing up, particularly in these two places? Will he do what he can to inject a sense of urgency into consideration of this problem?
§ Mr. WatkinsonI certainly will, but the facts are that we are dealing with land there which is for the use of the London public as an open space, and my right hon. Friend and I are naturally very reluctant to take large areas of it until we are really satisfied that it is the right suggestion.
§ Viscount HinchingbrookeIs my right hon. Friend aware that the volume of traffic in these places, the configuration of the ground and the space available, indicate underpasses, which are now being pursued in France and Belgium? Is he aware that the volume of traffic in some places we have seen recently is well below what exists in these places and yet abroad people are doing these things with their limited accommodation?
§ Mr. WatkinsonIt is also being pursued at Hyde Park Corner at a cost to me of £1 million.