§ 2.39 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware of the chaotic 413 conditions on the Embankment roadway between Blackfriars Bridge and the Houses of Parliament, owing to the lack of co-ordination and proper planning, by which both sides of the road are in hand at the same time and parts of the road have been pulled up twice in eight weeks, thereby causing great inconvenience to traffic and the business community on that important thoroughfare, and what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent a similar occurrence in the future.]
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, after the abandonment of the tramways along the Embankment in July, 1952, the City of Westminster and the City of London have taken the opportunity of reconstructing the whole Embankment at a cost of £250,000. The new road will be a dual carriageway and should greatly improve the traffic facilities. This is a big scheme and, I am afraid, has necessarily brought a measure of inconvenience to this area during the period of reconstruction. But from the outset the highway authorities—the City of Westminster and the City of London—have co-operated with each other and have thereafter brought into consultation the police, the statutory undertakers, the London Transport Executive and officers of the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation.
A development of this character is necessarily complicated and requires to be carefully phased. This phasing which, among other things, has to consider the interests of traffic, has involved in certain cases temporary paving of roads and foot-paths which has subsequently had to be redone. My right honourable friend is satisfied that the highway authorities have done their utmost to reduce the public inconvenience to the minimum consistent with finishing the work in the shortest possible time. It is very much hoped that this whole scheme will be completed by early this summer.
LORD TEYNHAMMy Lords, I am obliged to the noble Earl for that reply. Arising out of it, is the noble Earl aware that the Public Streets Act, 1950, controls these matters, and will he ask the Ministry of Transport to see for the convenience of the public that this Act is enforced?
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, I am informed that tie Acts concerned have been fully complied with. I have a reference here to the co-ordination required under Section 4 of the London Traffic Act, 1924. I am afraid that I have not a reference to the 1950 Act, to which the noble Lord referred.