HAS VISION OF A NEW LONDON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18189, 23 June 1927, Page 5

HAS VISION OF A NEW LONDON.

MOVING PLATFORMS TO REPLACE OMNIBUS. (Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, April 26. A vision of London rebuilt “a little nearer to the heart’s desire” was given by Professor A. E. Richardson, of London University, to the London Society, at the Royal Society of Arts, Adclphi, last night. He pictured the removal of factories and their regrouping in connection with the Port of London, the establishment of dormitory villages on the uplands of Essex, and the freeing of the City from warehouses. “Wheeled traffic within a mile of the Royal Exchange,” he said, “would then be prohibited. “Streets near the centre of the City would be served by moving ways roofed by glar& canopies, and, instead of a procession of omnibuses, we should have a procession of people moving within one stationary omnibus, so to speak. “London cannot take any more wheeled traffic,” he added. REGENT ARCADE. Other features of the London to be Blocks of streets with roof ways and flying stations. Zoning of shopping centres, wfith grouping of similar interests. Removal of existing terminal railwaj* stations to points five miles from Charing Cross. A new Regent Street that would be one of the finest shopping arcades of the world. Rebuilding of suburbs on ordered lines. One or two main inner avenues completely encircling the City to the West End. “London to-day,” concluded the professor, “in its street architecture presents an unsatisfactory appearance. It is a sort of ill-developed hobbledehoy. It has never escaped the mediaeval tradition. “The City of London proper is no bigger than it was in the days of Queen Elizabeth, and it still has the same formation of narrow streets, courts and lanes.”