§ 13. Mr. Worsleyasked the Minister of Public Building and Works when the area in Green Park used for the construction of the Victoria Line will be restored to public use.
§ Mr. LoughlinI fully appreciate the loss of amenity but I am afraid no date can yet be fixed.
§ Mr. WorsleyDoes the Minister agree that that is quite intolerable? The new 1100 line has been open for many months, and the park should be given back to the people of London to enjoy.
§ Mr. LoughlinThe new line may be open, but we want the area for the Fleet line as well. If we tried to increase the amenity value it would cost us £12,000 to take down the hoarding and remove the concrete structure. It would then cost us another £12,000 to put it back. If I had £24,000 to spend, I would rather use it for cleaning public buildings in Whitehall.
§ Mr. SpeedDo we take it from the hon. Gentleman's reply that this eyesore will remain until the Fleet line is completed?
§ Mr. LoughlinI would want notice of that question. We will restore this amenity at the first opportunity. If hon. Gentlemen opposite want to argue that we should not spend public money wrongly, they cannot very well demand the spending of public money in this instance.