HL Deb 13 November 1962 vol 244 cc530-1

2.51 p.m.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the present street works in Symons Street, Sloane Square, started; what their purpose is; and when it is expected that this street will be again open to traffic]

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, Symons Street was closed to traffic on August 4 by the Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea acting under Section 25 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. The purpose of the closure was to enable the construction of a new sewer and extensive repairs to an existing sewer to proceed. The Borough Council estimate that the works, including relaying the road, will be completed by March I next year.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his very full reply to my Question, but I should like to ask whether it might be possible for the work to be done by some sort of shift system because that road is a very important thoroughfare and the work seems to be subjected to a very large amount of delay.

LORD CHESHAM

My Lords, I do not speak directly for the authority concerned, but I am told that, in fact, this work was not intended to cause so much disruption. It involves the laying of a very large sewer 400 feet long, and it was intended to keep the street open for one-way traffic by tunnelling from each end. Unfortunately, water got into the tunnel, there was considerable subsidence which weakened the road, and it was necessary to close it. I think that the promptness with which the Council got on with the repairs shows there has been no delay in this matter, because it is a very big job.

LORD AMULREE

I thank the noble Lord for his reply.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, is the noble Lord not depressed by the length of time taken? If this had been a main road instead of, apparently, a side road although a very important through-fare, it would have been done much more quickly. It is inconceivable that a road can be closed for so many months for this reason.

LORD CHESHAM

I am afraid it is not inconceivable. As I say, I am not sure what is the actual size of the sewer which is being constructed for the benefit of the citizens of that part of London, but I know it is a very large one because one of the troubles is that a 5 ft. 6 ins. brick-built sewer which was intended to run over it collapsed into it and caused the job to become a much greater one than it was intended to be. They are coping with the results of the accident very well, as I understand it.