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to a few unimportant modifications, and conditionally on the
plan meeting the approval of the Commissioners of Woods.
Mr. H.J. Treadwell was appointed special Surveyor to advise
the Vestry as to the modifications of the accepted design, and
to supervise the carrying out of the work.
Upon the designs being laid before Colonel Kingscote,
Commissioner of Woods, for approval, he submitted for the
consideration of the Vestry a plan for the re-arrangement of
the open space at the Circus, providing for one large circular
space at the end of Shaftesbury Avenue (beneath which, it
was suggested, the Conveniences might be placed), with
smaller circular spaces or refuges at various points. This
plan did not at all commend itself to the Vestry, as not only
would the expense be enormous, but the position of the
Conveniences on an island, so to speak, out of the general line
of traffic, would be of much less use, and more difficult of
access, than in the position originally proposed. The Vestry
accordingly did not entertain the plan submitted by Colonel
Kingscote.
Objection was then taken by a few residents in the neighbourhood
to the carrying out of this plan, and some correspondence
with the Office of Woods ensued. Eventually
Colonel Kingscote stated that, in face of the objection taken
by the Metropolitan Board of Works and the neighbours, he
declined to give anv approval of the scheme, but that as the
Vestry appeared to be still of opinion that the Conveniences
are needed in the interests of the public, he would not oppose
their construction in accordance with the drawings submitted
to him, subject to certain specified amendments. These
amendments were agreed to by the Vestry, and a contract
accordingly entered into with Messrs. Finch and Co. for the
underground portion of the work, for the sum of £2,488, the