"THIS ELIGIBLE SITE."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sra,—Your article in the issue of the Spectator for September 9th by Mr. Clough Williams-Ellis upon Messrs. Rings and Hood's Thames Island Scheme calls for a little explanation upon the constructional and artistic possibilities of this project. Mr. Rings was good enough to consult me recently, and after care- fully considering its practicability I made some suggestions which will, I trust, tend to further their aims. To those who have not seen the plan it should be explained that the islands are proposed to be built west of London Bridge only, this being the portion of the river where the larger craft plying trade in the Thames mouth do not penetrate. The islands them- selves would be constructed upon reinforced concreted stanchions like a continuous pier about one-third the extreme width of the Thames at high-water level, any mud banks being dredged and embankments made to give the greatest available waterway on either side.
The nature of the subsoil of the river bed will obviously necessitate piling the foundations to take the loads of the superimposed buildings, which could not be more than three to four stories higher than the bridge levels, or say sixty to eighty feet in total height over-all from the flood tide level. A precedent already exists on the Seine in France, and very handsome buildings could be designed and erected for com- mercial purposes. Owing to the high value of riverside Elites in this area at present the islands should be able to pay a very good return on the outlay from a financial standpoint and therefore justify their existence. Parliamentary sanction would obviously be necessary, together with the support of the authorities of the Port of London and the London County Council.
The British Builder for this month outlines extensive pro- posals of street alterations in the parishes of Holborn and Westminster under the title of "St. Paul's Bridge, the Strand, and Seven Dials," which show how a broad arterial road through London from north to south could be provided if the St. Paul's Bridge were placed in the neighbourhood of Charing Cross instead of at the spot originally intended for it. Doubt- less, the London society are also cognizant of the various schemes of linking up the new thoroughfares both north and south of the Thames which will all add to the weight of influence which will bring due pressure to bear upon the systematic replanning of London to relieve the traffic con- gestion which is so notorious in certain districts, especially at Westminster Bridge and round the Bank. Concerning this latter area I contributed an article to the Architect, suggesting a wide circular route giving access to the east by means of four quadrants which would also link up the south of the Thames and the streets north of Finsbury Square. If any of your readers can assist by their influence to further the Thames Island Scheme it would encourage the promoters not a little., —I am, Sir, &o., ALBERT E. BULLOCK. 141 New Bond Street, London, W.1.
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