§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the advisability of the arcading of certain streets in London in order to lessen traffic congestion can be considered.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, highway authorities in the London area, as elsewhere, consider the possibilities of arcading when planning road improvements. My right honourable friend the Minister of Transport is always ready to look at any proposals they may make.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, is it not the fact that some very large blocks of office buildings are going up in the City of London, and might it not be very much to the advantage of traffic generally if these buildings could be arcaded, instead of carrying out the idea, which the Minister of Transport spoke about recently, of walkways being carried on cantilevers, or in other ways, from the buildings adjoining the street? Could the question be considered? May I ask the noble Lord one other question? There are examples of arcaded streets to be found in Italy and Paris; and if he does not already know about them, can the Minister examine these at the same time as he is taking decisions on his other idea?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I have already said that proposals for arcading can be considered whenever they come up. My noble friend realises, of course, that these schemes for development in various zones come from the appropriate highway authority which, in the case of most urban areas, is not my right honourable friend. It is perfectly obvious, I think, that arcading schemes can economically be worked only into now development, as the cost of working them into existing development is astronomical; but I am sure that the highway authorities up and down the country, and particularly in urban areas, will pay regard to what my noble friend has said.