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23
The Vestrymen's Qualification Bill proposes to
abolish the ratal qualification for Members of Vestries,
and the Board petitioned against it.
The Board took no action with regard to the other
Bills above mentioned.
Priory Lane,
Roehampton,
and
Richmond Park.
Owing to a question put in the House of
Commons by Sir Richard Temple on the 6th
February, the First Commissioner of Works communicated
with the Board with the view of the opening
of Priory Lane, Roehampton, to vehicles as an approach
to Richmond Park. It was ascertained that the owner
of the lane was willing to allow it to be converted into
a public road without compensation, and the Office of
Works stated that whilst they could not ask Parliament
to provide funds for a service outside the property of
the Department they would maintain the road inside the
park and the gate at Priory Lane. The Board were of
opinion that the opening of this proposed new approach
to Richmond Park would be a Metropolitan improvement,
and that the first cost thereof should bo borne by the
whole of London, but expressed their willingness to
undertake the lighting, watering, cleansing, and
maintenance of the lane if the London County Council
would make it up and remove the two lodges which now
stand on the lane. This, however, the Council declined
to do, stating that it was doubtful whether the
opening of Priory Lane for vehicular traffic would benefit
any large portion of London, and that the Council
hesitated to incur an expense of some £11,000 or
£12,000 in forming an approach to a park which was
not under their control. The proposal has therefore for
the present fallen through.
Government of
London.
The promised District Councils Bill, referred
to in the last annual report, has not yet been introduced