§ EARL FORTESCUEsaid, he wished to call the attention of the House to the obstruction which, particularly during the months of May, June, and the early part of July, was notoriously caused to, and by, the traffic coming out of Hamilton Place into Piccadilly. The obstruction had produced serious inconvenience, and he had already called attention to the subject some time ago. But he wished to do so again, before it became too late to apply a remedy which would cost little now, while the work was still unfinished, but would be much more expensive hereafter. He had now fortified his own opinion as to the right remedy by that of the best practical authorities he could conceive on the point—namely, that of some of those policemen who had discharged, in turn, the duty of managing the traffic there with so much tact and good humour. One of these had told him, evidently quite unconscious of his questioner being a legislator, that, when talking over their difficulties with his comrades, they all agreed the right thing to do was to widen Piccadilly gradually from opposite Park Lane, so as to get room for another double line of carriages opposite Hamilton Place. Practically, all the traffic down Hamilton Place went Westward or Southward, and, by the rule of the road, was obliged to cross, and therefore interrupt, the great flow of traffic Eastward along Piccadilly. But if space were given to the traffic on emerging from Hamilton Place to turn Westward at once, it would have opportunities, in the much widened space beyond, for joining its proper line either Southward or Westward, without much interrupting the traffic Eastward, by 1837 crossing it whore, so to speak, its line had got loosened in the wide spaces; as their experience had taught them traffic always did under such circumstances. He called upon the Government, which was always boasting of its economy, to make cheaply now an improvement which he was sure would have to be made before long at much greater cost.
LORD THURLOWMy Lords, I have absolutely no new information to impart to the noble Lord in reference to the Question he has just brought forward; but I will take care to bring it to the notice of the First Commissioner of Works, from whom, no doubt, it will receive full consideration. The noble Lord, I believe, admits that very great improvements have been made; that is universally admitted; but as those improvements are not yet completed, it is rather premature to judge at present of the results which will ensue from them. Early next Session, however, we may be able to judge better what improvements, if any, may be desirable to relieve the congested districts in the neighbourhood of Piccadilly.