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197
The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, at the request of
the Minister of Transport enquired into the adequacy of travelling facilities to and
from East London. Immediately on the publication of the report, in November,
1926, the findings of the Committee were considered by the Council. The Advisory
Committee expressed the opinion that the transport requirements of the present
and prospective residents on the Becontree estate should be further investigated,
and that the Council and the railway companies concerned should be invited to
explore jointly the practicability of providing additional travelling facilities either by
the construction of new branch lines and/or by the provision of facilities for the
extension of train services from the District Railway along either of the lines serving
the estate. Representations were accordingly made by the Council to the Minister of
Transport and to the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company as to the
urgent need for improving the travelling facilities on the Southend and Tilbury lines
from Barking and the Council expressed its willingness to participate in a conference
if convened, under the auspices of the Minister, to explore the situation. The suggested
conference did not eventuate, but an opportunity of raising the question of
improving the travelling facilities on the Southend and Tilbury lines occurred in connection
with the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Bill, 1927. On the motion for
the second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons on 21st March, 1927, the case
of the Council and of other authorities was put and an undertaking in the following
terms was given by Mr. E. B. Fielden, on behalf of the company:—
(1) The Company would, within two years (i.e., by March, 1929), put
forward proposals for improving the service, and, if necessary, promote
a Bill to give effect to them. They would not pledge-themselves to any
particular scheme, as other interested parties had to be consulted, but their
officers were considering all aspects of the matter, including electrification.
(2) On the completion of the re-signalling of the line between Barking
and Bow (to be completed, it was hoped, in the summer of 1927), six additional
trains would be rim in the summer of 1927 during the "peak"
hours, all of which it was hoped would stop at Becontree.
(3) The Company were fully alive to the importance of the population
at Becontree and would undoubtedly have in mind the requirements of
Becontree. The Company fully admitted that the requirements were not
satisfactorily met by the existing service.
The position is being carefully watched by the Council with a view to securing
that the undertaking given on behalf of the Company shall be implemented in due
course.
The total area of Bellingham (Lewisham) is 252 acres, and, under the mam
contract, completed in 1923, for the development of the portion of the estate devoted
to working-class dwellings (176½ acres), 2,096 houses and flats have been erected. A
few vacant plots have been left, on which it is now proposed to erect 32 additional
houses. The portion of the estate south of Southend-lane, at present used as a golf
course, has been reserved with a view to the erection by private enterprise of houses
of a higher value than those usually provided by the Council.
Bellingham.
The housing estate at Downham (Lewisham and Bromley), which is about
522 acres in extent, was acquired under compulsory powers. The estate is being
developed by Holland and Hannen and Cubitts, Limited, under a cost contract with a
variable fee to the contractor. On 5th April, 1927, the Council approved a capital
estimate of £810,000 to cover the cost of about 1,266 houses and flats on the Verdantlane
(No. 4) section of the estate. Subsequently the Council, on 26th July, 1927,
approved a capital estimate of £710,000 for the development of the remaining section
of the estate, known as the Grove-park (No. 5) section, by the erection of 1,132
houses and flats.
Downham..