§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave ask the first Question which stands my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Hyde Park Corner underpass was constructed from East to West, instead of from North to South.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the estimated traffic usage was similar in both cases, and I understand that a North/South underpass would have cost considerably more than the present scheme.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply may I ask him whether he would not agree that the volume of traffic at this spot has considerably increased since the East/West tunnel was constructed? Would it not be possible to consider building another tunnel from North to South with an underground roundabout at the intersection with the existing underpass?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I am puzzled by the last part of the noble Lord's supplementary question. With regard to the first part, I can tell him that it is estimated that a 30 per cent. increase in traffic has resulted from the Hyde Park Corner roundabout. It is technically possible to build a tunnel going North/South under the present tunnel, but the cost would be prohibitive and there are many other schemes in London which deserve more consideration.
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the reason the underpass was made from East to West is because the Government of the day would not listen to the representations I made at the time for an underpass from North to South?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I have the greatest respect for my noble friend, but I must say that the estimate at the time was in favour of an East/West, and not a North/South, underpass.
§ LORD RAGLANMy Lords, the next time the Government construct an underpass at Hyde Park Corner, will they heed what is said by the noble Lord, Lord Derwent?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, the Government listen to every noble Lord and to Members of the other place, but the fact is that the experts were of the opinion that the bulk of the traffic was running East/West.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, in considering the suggestion of my noble friend Lord Segal for an underground roundabout, would the Government consider that it may be more desirable to have an underground overpass than an overground underpass?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, coming from such an import-and source. I am sure that we shall consider it; but this is a part of London of considerable beauty, and whether that would spoil it is another matter.
§ LORD WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, would not the noble Lord agree that it would be highly desirable to have another tunnel as a way of escape for the Government?