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Forest Hill, when they are allowed to get out of repair, as they arc
not of sufficient public utility to warrant their repair being undertaken
at the public expence, and yet being open to the public,
they are in some instances (as with the West Kent Park), allowed
to get so greatly out of repair as to be a public nuisance. The
outlay required, too, is in many instances of a most serious amount,
from the roads not having been properly constructed in the first
instance. The 105th section of the Act has in some Districts been
held to apply to such cases, but the Board have felt a difficulty in
such an exercise of its powers, and, although they ultimately
determined on this course to such an extent as might be necessary
to render the roads free from danger to passengers, they hoped to
provide for the case by a special clause on the proposed amendment
of the Act. They regret, however, that their suggestion on this
subject has not met with the concurrence of the Metropolitan Board
of Works.
All "New Streets," or rather roads in speaking of such a district
as this, proposed to be made since the 1st of January, 1856, require
the sanction of the Metropolitan Board, who, by a Bye Law on
the subject (see Appendix), have specified not only the width
they shall be made, but also the form and materials, which will in
a great measure remove the difficulties now felt with roads previously
formed. The following new streets have been made under the
sanction of the Metropolitan Board during the last year:—two
upon Matthew Hill's Estate, near Lewisham Bridge; the Suburban
Grove, Lower Sydenham; one at the back of the Alma Tavern, and
two roads near the Anerley Tavern, Penge. These roads have
not at present been named, and it cannot be too widely known that
it is necessary (under the 141st section of the Act), that fourteen
days' notice of the intended names of any new streets must be given
to the Metropolitan Board, who may object to such name if there
be already a street in the Metropolis called by the same. This
provision also applies to the names and numbers of houses. Great
difficulty, as may be imagined, is found in enforcing its observance,
and the Metropolitan Board have appealed to the Vestries and
District Boards, and this Board on their part appeal to the public,
to assist them in carrying out a provision, the non-observance of
which is attended with daily inconvenience in the more thickly
populated parts of the Metropolis, and is becoming more and more
felt even in this suburban district.
Material improvements have in two instances been made in
the roads, under the 87th section of the Act, which empowers
Vestries and District Boards to fill up and cover in ditches at the
road sides, and throw the space gained into the roads. This has
been done at the ditch between the Roebuck Inn and Lewisham
Bridge, and also for a length of about 200 feet in Perry Vale,