§ LORD AMULREEMy 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—
- (1) When it is expected that work will be finished on the partially restored lodge between the East Carriage Drive in Hyde Park and Park Lane; and
- (2) When that part of Hyde Park which was closed when the underground garage was constructed will be reopened to the public and the collapsing fences removed.]
THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, in reply to the first part of the Question, I would remind your Lordships that this lodge was removed from its original site at Grosvenor Gate, as a necessary part of the Park Lane Improvement Scheme. The London County Council agreed to pay for its re-erection on a new site inside Hyde Park. Discussions on the detailed arrangements are still proceeding between my right honourable friend the Minister of Public Building and Works, the London County Council and the Westminster City Council.
In answer to the second part of the Question, the Westminster City Council are responsible for ensuring that the land 557 above the underground garage is restored to the satisfaction of my right honourable friend the Minister of Public Building and Works. It was originally planned that this work should be complete by the end of 1963. There has, however, been a setback, in that the growth of the new grass has not come up to expectations. The Council are considering what further remedial measures are necessary. I can assure the noble Lord that his solicitude for this area of the park is shared by my right honourable friend, and that it will be opened to the public as soon as the land is properly restored.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that full reply; but may I put two supplementary questions? The first is: Why was it that the lodge was partly rebuilt where it was, and then not finished? Secondly, would it be possible, as the rest of the Park cannot be opened, to put back the fences, which at present are falling down?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, in answer to the noble Lord's second supplementary, I should like to bring that question to the attention of my right honourable friend and have it looked into. Frankly, I do not quite know the answer to the noble Lord's first supplementary. I think it is that, for a number of reasons, the cost of restoring the lodge, or of moving it from its original site to the new one, has proved a great deal more expensive than was originally anticipated but again I should like a chance of looking into the point.
§ LORD AMULREEMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl.