THE SQUARE.

Press, Volume XLIV, Issue 19388, 14 August 1928, Page 8

THE SQUARE.

CITY COUNCIL'S SCHEME.

COMMITTEE INVESTIGATES,

Entirely of an informal character wore the proceedings at the conference yesterday between members of the "Save the Square" Committee and Air A. R. Galbraith. the City Engineer, with regard to ths City Council's scheme for the improvement of Cathedral Square. The members of the committee present were: Messrs George Gould (chairman), George Harper, John Anderson, J. A. Flesher, and Dr. H. T. J. Thacker. "To see the plans and to discuss matters" was stated to be the object of the conference. Mr Galbraith exhibited the plans and drawings. Referring to the plan of tl.e proposed colonnade, as drawn, he said that the encroachment shown on the green plot— forbidden ground," as he referred to it—would not be made; the plan would be redrawn so that the line of the colonnade would not encroach on the green plot, as by Act of Parliament, according to legal opinion, it could not be encroached upon. A departure from the model of the scheme (showing the colonnade completely surrounding the green plot} was that at present it was proposed only to erect the eastern half (i.e., the tram shelter, tramway inspectors' office, men's lavatory at the southern end, and the parcels office and entrance to women's lavatory at the northern end).. It was not. proposed, Mr Galbraith said in reply to a question, to do away with the existing underground conveniences. He snowed a plan of them, and said that it was proposed to remove the existing wall, dividing the women's from the men's conveniences, and to make all the additional space available for women. Mr Galbraith ga>ve some particulars of the extra cost of providing additional conveniences, for men underground, and offered to provide the committee with a copy of his estimates.

- What Alternative ? Replying to a question, Galbraith said that he had considered an alternative, but had not succeeded in finding one. It had been suggested that conveniences might be provided in some of the corners of the Square. Mr Galbraith started at the south-west corner and dealt with each corner, showing that either on the score of vehicular traffic or of possible objections from property owners, the provision for conveniences could not be made. There were, he said, plenty of suitable places on the river banks, riot far fijom the Square, where conveniences could, be erected and made inconspicuous. The difficulty was that they would be, to some extent, isolated, and as a result would attract undesirables., This would necessitate two attendants in order to deal with any trouble that might arise. To the suggestion that semi-under-ground conveniences might be provided when certain buildings in the Square are reconstructed, Mr Galbraith said that the objection Was that the sewer wafe not at a deep enough level. Asked when tenders were to be called for the work proposed in connexion with the Council's scheme, Mr Galbraith said that this would Ire done as soon as the plans were ready, but he could not say when that would b©> A general conversational discussion ensued, during which several sites for conveniences were mentioned. These included a portion of . the Tramway Board's car shed; the basement of the Post Office, the Strand Theatre (which was. suggested recently by a correspondent), and the Municipal Market The opinion was expressed that it was gratifying that the_ City Engineer had • considered other sites. The conferehce ended with expressions of thanks to Mr Galbraith for the information fgiven.

The Scheme's Weakness. At the conclusion of the conference, Mr Gould commented to a representative of The Press on the statement ot the City Engineer that all the underground ' accommodation is to be made available for women, ; and said that it was a weakness of the scheme that; as far as women were concerned tliey were to be forced to go underground for all time. The men's conveniences should be underground, and conveniences for the women should be proVid* ed at ground level on some suitable Slt On behalf of the "Save the Square" Committee and of objectors to the Council'? scheme,; Mr Qould has written to the Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) ashing that a deputation be received at next Monday's meeting of the City Council.