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between these two streets, and that, as the buildings to tho east o???
Hayles Street, as far as the " Gibraltar" Public-house, had been ???
demolished, and new buildings had been commenced to an entirely???
new frontage line, he could not lay down the line between Elliott's
Kow and Hayles Street. The Committee, in their report to the Vestry
expressed their surprise at the apparently narrow interpretation thus
given by the Council and their principal official of their duty in regarc ???
to the maintenance of the uniformity of the line of frontage of a road
which is, and is likely to continue, an important thoroughfare between
Westminster Bridge and South London generally.
The Superintending Architect was, at the same time, required by
notice to deline by certilicate the general line of buildings on the
south side of St. George's Road, between Elliott's Kow and Hayles
Street. To this notice the Superintending Architect replied that as
there was only one building between Hayles Street and Elliott's Row
other than those in respect of which the Vestry required the building
line to be defined, such building could not be deemed to constitute a
general line of buildings, and he asked the Vestry to amend their application
by extending the points westward, between which they wished
the general line of buildings to be defined.
This communication was so utterly inconsistent with the Superintending
Architect's previous decision as to the building line between
Hayles Street and West Square, that the Vestry declined to pursue
the matter further.
It was not until the meeting of the Vestry, held on tho 27th
February, 1900, that a communication was submitted from the Superintending
Architect, enclosing copy resolution passed by the Council
in November, 1899, consenting to the erection of an addition to the
" Prince of Wales Public-house, St. George's Road, at less than the
prescribed distance from Hayles Street. The plan, however, showed
the extension to cover the forecourt.
TheVestry and the Committee cannot but express surprise
at the interpretation given and the view taken by the Council and its
officials of their powers under the London Building Act, 1894, to
fix a building line for a public highway. It would appear from these
opinions, as well as those of counsel, that the Council have no power