HL Deb 18 April 1859 vol 153 cc1857-8
THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

moved, that there be laid before the House Copies of any Correspondence that may have taken place between the Metropolitan Commissioners of Sewers and Her Majesty's Government relating to the erection of an Office for the use of the Commissioners upon the site of Berkeley House, together with the Plans of the proposed Office and the Passage from St. James's Park to Trafalgar Square; also for Copy of the Lease or other Tenure of the above-named Site granted to the Commissioners. The noble Marquess said that he feared that the erection of an expensive building at that spot might interfere with future metropolitan improvements.

THE EARL OF DERBY

said, that there was no objection to lay the plans and documents referred to on the table. An engagement had been entered into by the Woods and Works, and had been sanctioned by the Treasury, for granting a lease of Berkeley House for ninety-nine years to the Metropolitan Board for the erection of suitable premises for their use on the site. The improvement referred to by the noble Marquess he understood to be an entrance into the Park from St. James's Square, but that would not be interfered with; and, indeed, one of the conditions made With the Board was that the existing foot Way should be considerably widened. The premises were to be let for ninety-nine years, for a portion of the time at £500 a year, and for the remainder at £3,50 and the Metropolitan Board was to erect premises worth £15,000.

THE MARQUESS OF CLANRICARDE

was afraid that that was the minimum expense.

THE EARL OF DERBY

That was a question which the Metropolitan Board and the ratepayers must settle between them.

LORD REDESDALE

asked, whether the erection of the new building would interfere with the continuation of Carlton Terrace?

THE EARL OF DERBY

could not conceive that it would, but this would best appear when the plans were produced.

LORD MONTEAGLE

made some observations upon the expenditure of money for the erection of premises in Spring Gardens as being unnecessary, because the Board of Works had already sufficient space in another part of the town.