HC Deb 23 July 1958 vol 592 c579

Lords Amendment: In page 15, line 22, at end insert new Clause "A": (1) At such time as, by virtue of section fifteen of this Act, the Apsley carriageway becomes a highway, any land situate to the west thereof, being land comprised in the Piccadilly lands, shall, if all interests therein are then vested in the Crown, become part of Hyde Park and accordingly be thereafter under the management of the Minister of Works. (2) In this section 'the Piccadilly lands' has the same meaning as in section six of this Act.

Mr. Nugent

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.

Only about half No. 148 Piccadilly will be needed for the new Apsley carriageway, and the Amendment will have the effect of bringing the remaining half of the site of No. 148 Piccadilly into Hyde Park, which it adjoins. All the authorities concerned have agreed that it is a sensible arrangement to include this strip of land, which would not otherwise be used, in Hyde Park.

Mr. Ernest Davies

In view of the fact that the Bill causes certain parts of the Royal Parks to be taken over for the purpose of facilitating traffic flow in London—the need for which we all accept—it is very gratifying to know that at least some land is to revert to the Ministry of Works and is to be incorporated in Hyde Park. The Minister stated that only half No. 148 Piccadilly would be taken over. What is to happen to the other half of the house? He says that it will become part of Hyde Park, but we presume that the house itself will be pulled down and that what will come to Hyde Park will not be half the house but half the land, which will be converted into parkland, as part of Hyde Park.

Mr. Nugent

If I may speak again with the leave of the House, that is correct. Half the site will fall into the new Apsley carriageway and the other half, surplus to the carriageway, will be brought into Hyde Park.

Question put and agreed to.—[Special Entry.]