October 26, 1916 
LAND & WATER 
13 
closely invcstigatod by the ronfercnces, and the accom- 
panying plan shows the proposals in their linal form. 
The work of the conferences has, like everything else, 
been injuriously affected by the war, but it was decided 
that the proper course was to continue it in order that at 
the end of the war everything should be ready to put 
the work into execution and thus provide, if necessary, 
an outlet for the labour of large bodies of men. 
The proposed roads, including 51 miles of existing roads, 
have a total length of about 130 miles, of which about 
io() miles pass through open- country and about 21 miles 
through built-up property. 
Briefly, the main propoasls are a North Circul.^r 
Ro.'Mi round the north of London from Kew Bridge, 
round to Leytonstone, via Ealing Common, the Welsh 
Harp, Hendon, Palmer's Green, and Edmonton, linking 
up all the main roads, and on the south of the river a 
South Circular I^o.\d, formed by linking up and im- 
proving existing roads, from Well Hall, Woolwich, to 
Clapham Common, passing on the way Catford, Forest 
Hill, Dulwich Common and Tulse Hill. 
Other proposals are : A new main road westwards, 
a new main road eastwards, a new main road north- 
wards and another south-westwards to Chertsey. 
Bypass roads or loop roads at Brentford and Croydon 
are already arranged for, and other or loop roads are 
proposed to avoid Romford, East Ham, Eltham, 
Bromley, Sutton, Kingston and Kingston Hili. 
Two important internal improvements are proposed, 
one from Essex Road to Lea Bridge Road, which will 
give a badly wanted new outlet to the north-east, and 
one from City Road to Hackney Road, to connect the 
proposed eastern and western avenues via the Euston 
Road, and thus form a new way right across London. 
The North and SOuth Circular Roads are of the 
utmost importance for present-day traffic, but it may well 
be questioned whether on national grounds they should 
not be supj)lemented by one or more additional roads in a 
general circular direction. The great plan being prepared 
by the London Society, by a committee under the chair- 
manship of Sir Aston Webb, R.A., is taking this point into 
consideration, and it is hoped that the (lovernment will 
do likewise, either by laying down additional roads, or by 
permanently reserving a belt of open country which 
would be of service at a later date, either for defensive 
purposes or for military training and aerial defence, which 
recent experience has shown to be so necessary. 
The other official proposals are for convenience divided 
into the six sections into which (Greater London was 
divided for the purpose of investigation. 
North-East Section : 
Eastern Avenue, a new artery of great importance mid- 
way between existing main roads. Commencing in Hack- 
ney Road at Great Cambridge Street and passing north 
of ^'ictori:^ Park through Lcyton and Leytonstone, 
and north of Ilford to a point in the Romford bypass 
(constructed to avoid the town of Romford), just east 
of Gidea Park. The details of this route through Leyton 
and Leytonstone are open to criticism, but the absolute 
necessity for a new thoroughfare is admitted. A new' 
Deck Road at Canning Town, ai'forciing relief to the jirescnt 
traffic congestion near the Victoria and Albert Docks. 
liast Ham and Barking, Bypass, a new road avoiding these 
towns from the l^eckton Road to a point on the Ripple 
l^oad beyond Barking, greatly facilitating dock and 
otlier traffic in the direction of Tilbury, whicli will be of 
still greater v.ilue if a new liridge is constructed over the 
Lea at Canning Town. Other imprf)venients are proposed 
in the town of fiarking and a new road from South Wood- 
ford to Ilford. 
North Section : 
Ncia Canihridff,e Road, an entirely new artery leading due 
north from the L.C.C. White Hart Lane Estate, Totten- 
ham, parallel with the existing road and terminating at 
its northern end at Turnford, on the existing Cambridge 
Koad, and with branches at its southern end to Green 
Lanes and Tottenham. 
Nortii-West Section : 
New West-ern Avenue, starting from Blenheim Crescent, 
Kensington, crossing into Silchester Road and then under 
tlie West London Railway, south, of Wormwood Scrubs, 
then north of Hanger Hill and across open country just 
south of the G.W.R. High ^^^•combe Hue, and" ter- ^ 
minating in the Oxford Road a mile beyond Uxbridgc 
thus relieving the existing main road to L'xbridge and 
Oxford. 
Sudbury Extension, another much-needed link, fonning a 
bypass avoiding Willesden and Wembly. giving an alter- 
native route to Harrow, and forming a valAble connection 
from Kew Bridge northward. 
Soutii-West Section : 
Brentford Bypass is already provided for, the Middlesex 
County Council having secured powers for the construction 
of an 80 ft. road, avoiding the narrow High Street o£ 
Brentford, with its eastern end at Kew Bridge and its 
western end in the Bath Road just beyond Hounslow. 
An extension to the Basingstoke Road from Staines is 
badly needed. 
Kingston Bypass. — The first proposal was to avoid not only 
the town of KingstOTi, but the steep climb up Kingston 
Hill by a somewhat circuitous new road from Robin Hood 
Gate. Kingston Vale, skirting New Maiden and Surbiton, 
and rejoining the Portsmouth Road near Esher. Although 
probably too circuitous to be much used as a bypass on 
the existing road, this line will be of great value in taking 
traffic from Tooting and Merton direct to the I^ortsmouth 
Road. This proposal has been agreed, and also an inner 
bypass road suggested by the Kingston Town Council 
from Surbiton Assembly Rooms to Norbiton, on the line 
of an existing pipe track ; an important connection is also 
suggested from Surbiton to Copse Hill, Wimbledon. 
Thames Bridges. — A new bridge is suggested at Richmond, 
also the widening of Putney Bridge and the rebuilding of 
Wandsworth Bridge and its approaches. 
The proposed Chertsey Road, from High Road, Chis- 
wick, through Richmond and Twickenham to Chertsey, 
will also eventually involve the construction of a new 
bridge between Mortlake and Chiswick. 
Southern Section : 
Sutton Bypass and Merton Connection. — In connection 
with this road there is an opportunity of linking up the 
main roads by a line from Morden Hall to Mitcham Lane, 
which ought not to be neglected. 
Croydon Bypass has been undertaken by the Croydon 
Borough Council, and although somewhat steep at the 
Purley end, it will materially assist traffic on the Brighton 
Road wishing to avoid Croydon. 
South-Eastern Section : 
Bromley Bypass, avoiding the town of Bromley and follow- 
ing the valley of the Ravensbourne, the only difficulty 
being the limited headroom where the road passes under 
the railway bridge at Shortlands Station. 
Eltham Bypass, avoiding the High Street of Eltham, and 
opening out fresh country between Lee Green and Sidcup. 
Old Kent Road to Catford, a somewhat difficult route to 
negotiate, and like the other internal improvements 
suggested, necessitating special legislation to accomplish. 
A very great saving of time and distance would, however, 
be effected by its construction. 
No estimates as to the cost of the proposals have been 
prepared, but it appears probable that in most cases 
the landowners will willingly co-operate, as the local 
authorities have already expressed their willingness to do, 
in making these proposals an accomplished fact, and it 
remains for the Governm'ent to put the machinery in 
motion, so that the work may be carried out at the earliest 
opportunity, so soon as labour is available. 
The credit for these magnificent proposals for the 
relief of London traffic is due primarily to Sir Herbert 
Jekyll and his successor Colonel R. E. Hellard, R.E., the 
latter of whom has for many years patiently laboured, 
in fair weather and foul, for these great improvements. 
There have been many discouragements and compromises 
by the way, but at last the imited voice of the repre- 
sentatives of Greater London has emphatically endorsed 
the. proposals as being necessary, vitally necessary, for 
the traffic of London, and as a first step towards a well- 
ordered plan of development for Gi-eatcr London. 
We have-"'Secn too, that the problem is a national one, 
upon which the "Safety of the capital of the Empire may 
one day cfepend^ 
The strpcgica limportancc of these new roads for London 
• -.will, be dealt 7e>ilh in a special article by Mr. Hilaire 
iBclloehi Land cS: Water of November ()th. 
