§ EARL HOWEasked Her Majesty's Government:
What will be the effect on road traffic of the works proposed at Westminster Underground Station, and to what extent the convenience of the public is likely to be affected by them?
§ LORD CHESHAMThe tunnel at Westminster Station is to be enlarged so that the platforms may be extended at an adequate width for the full length of eight-car trains. At the present time, the end car of each eight-car train is in the tunnel when the train is stationary,766WA and the platforms are to be lengthened not only to reduce congestion on the platforms but also to make it easier for passengers to get on and off the end cars. Powers to carry out the work were granted by Parliament in the British Transport Commission Act, 1960.
Work is expected to begin in August and to last about a year. It will involve digging up part of Victoria Embankment and, under the Act, the British Transport Commission can do this only by arrangement with the Westminster City Council, who are the highway authority. Plans have been agreed which will ensure that at all times an adequate footway will be maintained and room will be available for two lanes of traffic in either direction. The central island will be removed and a temporary barrier substituted. The police and our traffic advisers are satisfied with these arrangements. My right honourable friend, the Minister of Transport, will be watching their effects carefully.
Some of the work will inevitably be noisy, and the effect of this may be felt in nearby offices, including the old St. Stephen's Club premises now used by Members of another place and by the National Economic Development Council. The noise should not, however, be more than is normal with road or building works, and special construction methods will be used to avoid percussion pile driving. Most of the work will have to be done outside normal working hours to avoid interference with trains. My right honourable friend is assured that the Commission will take all practicable steps to keep noise and inconvenience to the minimum consistent with the efficient completion of this necessary work.
House adjourned at eighteen minutes past eleven o'clock.