Analysis
i)
Interpretation of Section 8 of the Act
68. The preamble to section 8 of the Act explains that the improvement works would
necessitate the occupation of land under the control of the Commissioners or the
Crown and interference with the garden already in existence (Victoria Tower Gardens
as it was before the extension authorised by the 1900 Act). Accordingly, “For
protection of the Commissioners of Works” (the side note to s.8 of the Act) it was
agreed between the Commissioners and the Council that the works ‘shall only be
executed subject to and in accordance with’ the provisions of section 8. Section 8
includes, as is common ground, an extension (the new garden land) to the existing
Gardens. The preamble refers to a plan signed by the Chairman of the Committee of
the House of Lords. The Court was taken to an (unsigned) copy of plan which shows
the new garden land coloured in green. This is in contrast to an earlier Ordnance
Survey map which shows a cement works, a wharf and other buildings in the same
area.
69. Sections 8(1) - 8(8) create a cascade of obligations which include as follows:
Section 8(1) provides in mandatory terms that the land shall be laid out
and maintained for use as a garden for the public and integral part of
Victoria Gardens.
Section 8(3) provides for London County Council to carry out the
clearance and levelling works to the satisfaction of the Commissioner of
Works and to vest the land in the Commissioners.
Section 8(6) provides for the Commissioners to lay the land out as a
garden and do related works to secure uniformity of design in the extended
Victoria Tower Gardens and
Section 8(8) provides for the Commissioners to maintain the garden so laid
out.
70. Laying out of the land as a public garden integral to the existing gardens was carried
out and completed but section 8(1) and (8) provide a continuing obligation to
maintain it. Section 8 has not been repealed and accordingly the obligation subsists.
The question that arises is whether ‘maintained’ is to be understood as meaning that
the land must be kept for use as a public garden or whether it is limited to meaning to
the garden must be kept in good repair/maintenance for so long as it is used as a
public garden.
25