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47
LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS.
The most important improvement which has been carried
out during the year is the formation of the new street
(Shaftesbury Avenue) from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford
Street, by the Metropolitan Board of Works, under the special
Act of Parliament obtained by the Board in 1877. The
Vestry will assume the charge of so much of this street as
lies within the Parish of St. James, when the paving at the
junction of certain streets has been satisfactorily completed,
and has resolved to plant trees along each side thereof. Viewed
from a financial standpoint, the formation of this new street
is a direct loss to the Parish, inasmuch as the area to be
paved, cleansed, and lighted is considerably increased, while
much heavily rated property has been removed. This loss
will, however, be diminished as the land now vacant is built
upon, and the convenience of a direct route to Bloomsbury is
unquestioned.
The improvement of Little Pultenev Street is now approaching
completion.
Two minor local improvements have been considered during
the year; one to set back the building at the north-east
corner of Berwick Street, and the other to set back the projection
of No. 9, Archer Street to the general line of the
adjoining buildings. In view, however, ot the large outlay
which would probably be involved, in comparison with the
extent of the benefit to be derived by the public, the Vestry
did not feel justified in effecting'either of the these improvements.
NAMES OF STREETS.
Several proposals for renaming streets have been under
consideration. A suggestion was made to alvlish the name
of Coventry Street, and to renumber the houses in Piccadilly,
but it appearing that the resident tradesmen entertained a
strong objection to the proposed alteration, and the existing
name being sufficiently distinctive, the Vestry requested the