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16
the motion for the rejection of the Bill, which had been
moved by Mr. Gainsford Bruce, was therefore negatived.
The Clerk to the Board was then instructed to take the
necessary steps as Solicitor to the Board for opposing the
Bill before the Select Committee to whom it was referred,
but some negotiations having taken place between the
Solicitor to the Board and a Committee of the London County
Council, very considerable modifications of the Council's
proposals were agreed to as follows : firstly, that the eastern
end of Shelton Street and the connecting portion of Brewer
Street should be stopped up; secondly, that in the buildings
to be erected, fronting on the new street connecting the
western end of Shelton Street with Parker Street, no windows,
doors or apertures of any description were to be
opened; thirdly, Parker Street was to be widened from
Hansard's Premises at the eastern end to Gain's seed warehouse
at the western end to 40 ft.; and fourthly, the pieces
of land in Macklin Street which were proposed to be used
for commercial purposes should be conveyed to the Board
and thrown into the public way. It was felt that although
these suggestions did not entirely meet the views of the
Board, yet they were such substantial concessions on the
part of the Council that the Board decided to accept them,
and further opposition to the Bill having been rendered
unnecessary it was, as amended, passed by the House of
Commons.
It was admitted on all hands in the House of Commons
that the works connected with the area had been a very
long time in hand, and it is to be sincerely hoped that
no further time will be lost in erecting buildings on the
area, and thus providing accommodation the want of which
is so much felt at the present time,