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(1) That this Council is of opinion that the proposed tramways from the
Tooting terminus to Earlsfield Station and from Earlsfield Station
to York Road, Wandsworth, respectively, should be constructed
upon the underground conduit system.
(2) That as by adopting the overhead trolley system there will be a
saving of four years in the introduction of electrical traction on
the tramways acquired from the South London Tramways
Company this Council is willing to consent as a temporary
arrangement to the use of overhead traction on such tramways •
upon condition that the London County Council agree to alter the
overhead to the underground conduit system as soon as possible.
West Hill,
W andsworth.
Widening.
95.—Considerable progress has been made with the negotiations
for the acquisition of the property required for
this improvement and terms have been arranged with
the owners for the purchase of a number of the
interests. In a few cases, however, the compensation offered by
the Council not having been accepted it has been necessary to take
steps to acquire the property compulsorily. The forecourt fences
of some of the houses on the south side have been set back and
the work of erecting an ornamental iron fence to the new line in
front of the Public Library and removing the adjoining shops is
in hand. The Council endeavoured to purchase the part of the
forecourt of the police station which will project into the widened
thoroughfare, but the Home Secretary declined to consent to the
sale of any portion thereof. As the premises belong to the Crown,
they are exempt from the operation of the Act under which the
Council has power to acquire property compulsorily and the width
of the road at the point will consequently be less than at first contemplated.
96.—The application to the County Council for a contribution
towards the cost of the improvement has been proceeded with and
that Council was informed that if it would contribute two-thirds
of the cost this Council would give its consent to the construction
of a tramway along the portion of the road proposed to be widened
between the police station and Santos Road. The County Council
in December last year gave its consent to the carrying out of the
improvement in accordance with the plan prepared by this Council
upon these terms.