Orders of the Day — Coast Protection Bill.

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at on 29 October 1929.

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Photo of Mr George Strauss Mr George Strauss , Lambeth North

I want to deal very briefly with one aspect of this Bill, because it is of enormous importance to Londoners. The Bill as drafted will have the effect of handicapping very seriously the work of the London County Council, without having the compensating advantage of achieving any of the objects which the President of the Board of Trade suggested in his speech. That arises from the definition of "seashore" in the Bill, because, startling as it may appear, the River Thames extending right up to Teddington is seashore, and anything which is done on the Thames or under the Thames, will come under this Bill and must have the approval of the Board of Trade. I am sure that the President of the Board of Trade has no desire to handicap the London County Council in the execution of its public duties, and that when the time comes he will meet the council. The works which they have to do are continual works and frequent, works. One of their duties is to maintain, to alter and to repair the London bridges; they are responsible for the main drainage of London, which results in frequent alterations of the various works along the banks of the Thames; and, most important of all, they are the authority responsible for flood prevention in London, and in that capacity they have extensive work to do along the whole of the banks of the Thames, and very often extremely urgent work. The House will remember the disaster which happened about two years ago, when many people in London were drowned; and it may easily happen, and in fact does constantly happen, that the county council have, for the safety of Londoners, to undertake certain works urgently.

Amongst other works which the London County Council have to do are the maintenance and repair of their tunnels, their embankments and their ferry works. The object of this Bill is: "To make further and better provision for the protection of the coast of the United Kingdom against erosion"; and no one can suggest that if the County Council were exempted from this Bill, the erosion of the coast would be affected in any way. A second object is" For the management in the interests of the public of the shore and bed of the sea and other tidal waters"; and again, if the London County Council were allowed to maintain their existing rights, they would not in any way jeopardise the management in the interests of the public of the shore and bed of the sea. On the other hand, if they do come within the ambit of this Bill—and it appears to me that it is only by accident that they would do so, the accident being that the Thames happens to flow up to Teddington—they are convinced that it will seriously interfere with their work and will handicap them in carrying out their duties with the efficiency and expedition which they desire to show. When this Bill is considered in Committee their existing rights should be fully maintained in order that they may carry out their work. I am sure the President of the Board of Trade does not desire to handicap a great public authority like the London County Council in its important work, and I very much hope he will consider the attitude of the Council to be reasonable, as it is, and, when the appropriate time comes, will meet them on the Committee stage of the Bill.