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26
At the commencement of the session of 1877, the Metropolitan Board of Works
introduced their Metropolitan Streets Improvement Bill into Parliament and at the
suggestion of the Solicitor of that Board, this Vestry appointed three gentlemen
thoroughly conversant with the locality, viz:—Mr. Robert Foottit, churchwarden,
Col. James Payne and Mr. John Bulmer, to give evidence before the Committee of
the House of Commons in support of the proposed improvement in this Parish
(Union road) and to show the Committee that the thoroughfare to be improved
might fairly be considered an important Metropolitan thoroughfare as distinguished
from one used to a great extent by the inhabitants only of the locality.
This Bill is proceeding through Parliament.
The Vestry having had under consideration the scheme introduced to Parliament
for the formation of a Subway commencing at the Horns Stairs in this Parish passing
under the bed of the river Thames and terminating on the opposite shore in the
parish of Limehouse, the following resolutions on the subject were passed by the
Vestry on the 6th February, 1877, viz:—
"Resolved that this Vestry believing the Limehouse Subway will prove of
benefit to the inhabitants of this parish by affording increased facilities for communication
between this parish and the north side of the river Thames, the Vestry
approve of the scheme, subject to the insertion of certain clauses in the Bill to
protect the interests ot the parish with regard to the roads, sewers, drains, &c, and
that the Members of Parliament for the Borough of Southwark, be requested to give
the said Bill their support during its progress through Parliament also
"Resolved that the Clerks be instructed to take all necessary steps to proteft the
rights of this Parish upon all points affected by the Limehouse Subway Bill with
reference to roads, drains, sewers, &c., and to point out to Sir J. W. Bazelgette,
Engineer to the Metropolitan Board of Works in answer to his letter of the 6th
December last, the several clauses which they consider should be inserted in the
Bill for the protection of this Parish, and the several objections they have to the
Bill as drawn particularly the clause exempting the works and property of the
proposed Company from Rates."
The said Bill amended in several particulars with the clause therein proposing
to exempt the property of the Company from assessment to Metropolitan, Parochiaf,
and other rates struck out, is proceeding through Parliament.
The Bill introduced to Parliament by the Metropolitan Board of Works
entitled "The Thames River (Prevention of Floods) Bill," was considered by the
Vestry at a Special Meeting called for that purpose on 22nd November, 1876, when
the following resolution on the subject was made, viz:—