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annual loss to the District of upwards of £950 in the shape of rates,
and the Bill purposed to give extensive powers to the promoters to
permanently close streets, and to interfere with the sewers, paving,
and other works of the District, and the Board considered that the
Bill should be opposed in order that compensation should be made
to the District for the loss to be thereby sustained, as also by the
interference with the sewer and paving works. Petitions were presented
to the House of Commons against such Bill by the Board and
by the owners of property on the same and several other lines of the
proposed new streets; but the Committee of the House, after several
days sittings, passed the preamble of the Bill, and declined to grant the
petitions of any of the opponents, save those relating to the extension of
the Thames Embankment at Millbank, which it struck out of the Bill.
Coal Yard and Goldsmith's Alley Improvement.
By the 57 Geo. 3, cap. 29, the persons having the control of
the pavements in the Metropolis are authorized to widen or extend
any of the streets or other public places in their district.
At the rear of the street called the Coal Yard, running out of the
East side of Drury Lane, is an alley, 52 yards in length, varying in
width from 4 ft. 3 in. to 2 ft. 9 in., bounded on the East side by a dwelling-house
and workshops, and on the West by a dead wall, and leading
to Charles Street. The workshops at the South end have been
recently taken down, and the land whereon the same stood has been
purchased by the Guardians of the Poor for the purposes of Casual
Wards; access to the same from the Workhouse is by Drury Lane,
along the entire length of Charles Street (which street, owing to
the low classs of property and the habits of the population, is at all
times most objectionable to traverse), or a circuitous route by High
Holborn and Newton Street. The Alley, throughout nearly one half its
length, is only wide enough for one person to walk at a time, and is
used as a urinal, and at night is the scene of much immorality.
Under these circumstances, the Board was of opinion that it would
be to the public benefit and advantage that the Alley should be widened
and improved by converting it into a Street, having a carriageway of
not less than 14 ft., and two footways of a width of 3 ft. each.
Accordingly the Board has taken steps to purchase the site of the
dwelling-house, shed, and workshops, and the vacant ground, lying on
the East side of Goldsmith's Alley; at an estimated cost of £3,269
exclusive of professional charges and cost of works, which sum it is
estimated will be reduced by sale of the surplus land, by the sum of
£1,016 to £2,253—one moiety thereof, not exceeding £1,126 10s.,
the Metropolitan Board of Works has agreed to contribute as a
Metropolitan improvement. To carry out the improvement this Board
has agreed to borrow of the Metropolitan Board of Works the sum of
£3,000, at £3 15s. per cent., repayable by annual instalments, with
interest, within fifty-two years.