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28
Line of
frontage
A very important power in the interest of the public is vested
in the Metropolitan Board of Works and in the Vestry, and that is
in reference to lines of frontage in streets.
In many streets in which there were formerly private residences
only, it was found by the owners beneficial to convert places into
shops. In such cases, if there were forecourts to the houses, the
owners generally try to come out to the full extent of their
property. Before doing so the assent of the Metropolitan Board
of Works must be obtained. The Board, before granting any
license, gives information to the Vestry of the proposed erection,
and requests the views of the Vestry on it. In this way the Vestry
has had some hundreds of applications before them, and upon
their recommendation the Metropolitan Board has, in many
instances, varied the plans submitted, and have only granted the
license upon conditions that the portion between the front of the
new erection and the pavement should be thrown into and form
part of the public highway. In other cases the Board has refused
their sanction altogether.
In the event of a building being eregeneral line without the consent of the Metropolitan Board of
Works, the Superintending Architect of that Board is empowered to
define the general line of frontage in the street, and if the new erection
prove in advance of it the Vestry can apply to a magistrate to
order it to be pulled down. The magistrate is not bound by the
certificate of the Superintending Architect, but may view and
determine himself.
The Vestry has applied to the Superintending Architect to
define such line in the following streets:—
In 1867—Bow Common Lane.
1868—Mile End Rd., between Jubilee St. andStepney Green.
1875—Ernest Street.
1877—Stepney Green.
1882—Commercial Road.
The Vestrj' took proceedings before a magistrate in the three
last cases.' In the case of Ernest Street the builder agreed to conform
to certain requirements. In the two last ones the magistrate
dismissed the summons.
Nuisances
to highways
By the Metropolis Management Act the Vestry have to
exercise the duties of Surveyors of Highways, and therefore it is
incumbent on them to prevent any nuisance to the highway arising.