The Express.
London, England, 1858-06-11 00:00:00

IMPORTANT DICISION OF LORD RRDINDALE.

Three sittings in the committee of the Holum of
Lards, bdore Lord Bedsidele, have been held upon a bill
now beton parliament to give powers to build over the whole
of the vaunt ground opposite Westminster Abbey, part of
which has for years been appropriated for a new approach to
the Abbey, as shown on the plans of Sir Charles Barry, now
exhibiting at the Royal Academy.
The bondholders' committee of the Westminster Improve-
ment Co:Braised.° opposed the bill ; and it appeared from the
report of Mr. Marsh Nelson, the architect they had coa-
-1 suited, end the evidence given before Lord Redonda* that
by en oversight when the Westminster Improvement Acta
ware passed, parliament (se in the case of the trianguler
plea of ground in Cannowstrest, opposite St. Paul's
Cathedral) bad neglected to reserve the ground for the pub-
lic, and it is now proposed to build over it, end thue for ever
to preclude the carrying out of (except at a most extravagant
outlay) this long wished for plan, an improvement even more
important than that near Bt. Paul's.
The piece of ground is immediately opposite the western
front of the Abbey, and if built on would produce the same
effect, with reference to the Abbey, as if a house were built in
frost of Bt. Paul's at the top of ILudgete-hill. The ground
before St. Pain's (which has excited so much Interest) is not
Immediately in front of the edifies, bat at the south-east
angle. Bach lamentable errors on the part of the legislature
with reference to the improvements of the metropolis arose
from the want of a government plan of proposed metropolitan
improvements to enable committees of the houses of parliament
(when applied to sanction bills for street improvement.)
to refer to It with a view of ascertaining whether the bill
before them interfered with any site previously marked out
as desirable to acquire for public purposes.
The preparation of a plan of this kind had been frequently
urged upon the government. In Paris a similar one had
been in existence for years, and had proved of the greatest
possible benefit.
It was stated that there could be no doubt that as soon se
it was generally known that buildings were about to be com-
menced on that part of the vacant site required for the pro-
posed improvement, there would be the same burst of po-
polar indignation that there we. at the time of the first as-
...

monument of the City'a intention to cover the vacant ground
at the umtb•enat angle off3t: Paul's...
. . _

Sir Charles Barry end if r. Scott (tie architect of the
abbey) had onnfirtued Mr. Nelson's views with reference to
the appropriation of the ground, mad had dated that it wee of
the utmost importance that the ground should not be boat
upon in the way proposed.
The bondholders contended, in the face of such opinions,
that they ought not to be called upon to part with this most
valuable site, " the key of the position," more particularly
when the price proposed to be given for it was not Its value,
even lees per superficial yard than the adjoining land Will let
for five years ago, and when there was other ground on the
opposite side of the street larger sad as well adapted for the
erection of an hotel, the object the promoters of the bill had
In view.
_ _

The witnesses on the part of the oceopany contended that,
nosidaing the pnernt circumstances under which the pro-
perty is unfortunately placed, the prios offered was as much
se amid be got for it, end was its fair annual value.
Thome ohnumstancee wore an follows, videlicet:—That the
lend was encumbered with 10 mortgagee, 20 judgments,
and 16 Chancery traits, =kin a total of 48 encum-
brances, to which there am no lees (exclusive of the
commissioners) than upward. of 80 parties. That the
late government not only refused to asthma the
wen of the oommineriomers, bet objected to aid than by any
legislative enactment whatever. That there we. no probe-
ity of this state of things being put an end to, end that
unless none one took companion on the cotenciniOners, like
the promoters of the present bill, by introducing in parlia.
went, at their own =penes, a separate estate MU, to enable
the comml.ioners to let the grows' whenever an offer

wa. made for
,iitertte,howeve;small,tieWirolt7of the
property was y =marketable and valueless, and,
moreover, it was likely for ever te remain so. In fact, tones
the words of one of the surveyors who was consulted upon
the value of the land, " I look upon it aa a perfect Slough of
Thigrd."
bondholders' committee further contended that under
any circumittances nothing should be done with the plot of
ground until it had been offered to the government, as that
would afford a favourable opportunity for the government in-
vestigating the whole question, as it was perfectly absurd for
the government to sanction a course which obliges every mut
who takes a piece of ground to build a hone.) in Victoria-
street to obtain a eeparate act of parliament, and at the same
time objecting to pass a general measure for precisely
the same objects, the principle Involved beteg the
memo as in the Incumbered Behar Act for Ire-
land. The bondholders' committee therefore opposed the
present bill on publie grounds, that if the building le erred
oa the resent plan, to cover the whole of the ground, thus
blocking op the proposed approach to the Abbey, ft would be
one of the greatest pieces of Vandalism that ever wee per-
mitted ; and on the and pmthmeabry grounds, that the
;tan proposed was generally lajutions to their Internet% and
that the rental to be paid wee quite Inadequate for this most
valuable portion of their property.
Lord Itedindelereided that ha coal aol look to the pub&
tatereate is the matter, as as ase of parilereat bed bola
to give powers to purchase ism/ ta virile", sad
scaldks not ..Nelda rep smisosplatal improrsmals, how-
ever invorlant he pommel to tabs the *gists of Mr.
Clattoa, of the offiao of Weedsmad Tsrosto, as to windier
the rata spoof to be sine was the fall mad fair vahts if
the
= of ibis deaden is, that if Mr. Matta made
that the prim, 10 not tralhalsat, the bai wM be thrown oat ;
if, ca Ibs cotes load, that M r the fall aaf fate &las, dm

bill will par, end this much wished for public improvement
will be most probably for ever promoted.
Sward of the ptincipal architects and surveyors were ex-
amined on both sides. Mr. Beaumost appeared aa &Orono
for the bondholders' committee, and Mr. Ball for the com-
pany; the latter menpported by the VisMobistir
provetnact Commi