§ 3.20 p.m.
THE CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES (LORD MERTHYR)My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. I should like to inform the House that the Promoters of the Bill, the Corporation of the City of London, have asked leave to withdraw Part III of the Bill. This Part deals with the demolition of the tower of the former church of St. Alban, in Wood Street. The tower is a building of considerable historical and archæological interest—it is, in fact, a Wren building—and it was the Promoters' original intention to demolish it in order to widen Wood Street as part of a traffic improvement scheme. But, as a result of negotiations between the 956 Promoters and the Ministries of Transport, Works and Housing, they have now agreed to withdraw the provisions and to preserve the tower. My Lords, in view of the fact that this matter has given rise to some controversy, I think it would be right to inform the House of this fact. A Petition has been deposited by the London County Council against other clauses in the Bill, which, if it is given a Second Reading to-day, will therefore be sent to a Select Committee.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2a, —(Lord Merthyr.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2a, and committed to a Select Committee.