§ 2.54 p.m.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, having regard to the meter experiment in Grosvenor Square and the lessening of congestion thereby in contrast with the congestion now developed in adjoining streets without meters, to the south, they are now able to regard this as evidence of the useful contribution meters can make in mitigating the parking problem in general.]
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the Road Research Laboratory and the Westminster City Council have not yet completed studying the effects on traffic congestion and safety of the parking scheme in north-west Mayfair. Until these studies have been completed any definite reply to the noble Lord's Question is not possible. Results to date have, however, been most encouraging. My right honourable friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation has already announced in another place his willingness to consider applications by any London borough who may be thinking of going forward with similar schemes. My right honourable friend hopes shortly to announce his decision on a scheme put forward by the St. Marylebone Borough Council.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his most encouraging reply, may I ask him if he would give consideration as to whether it would be worthwhile circularising the other boroughs, drawing their attention to the possibilities which he has just told us are available to them to accelerate the installation of meters?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his kind reception to my reply to his Question. I 844 do not think, however, that there is any necessity to circularise even further the borough councils. The announcement which my right honourable friend made in another place has already been published in the Press, and we are under the impression that several borough councils are seriously considering putting forward similar schemes.
§ LORD KILLEARNMy Lords, arising out of the reply of the noble Earl, may I, as a humble resident in a square which is completely congested, ask whether the ordinary, humble resident of a square can do anything about it in the way of making representations, either to the borough council or otherwise? The square in which I live is blocked for three-quarters of the day.
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords, the noble Lord has my complete sympathy. I tried to get in the square the other day to have a drink with him, and I was unable to park my car. However, the only thing I can suggest to the noble Lord is the suggestion he has himself made: that he bullies his own borough council.
§ LORD KILLEARNI have asked the police and I "got no change" whatever. They told me that I have no rights whatever on the thoroughfare, although I have a frontage facing it.
LORD WALERANMy Lords, arising out of the questions and answers, would the noble Earl indicate what steps Her Majesty's Government are taking to prevent serious hardship and inconvenience to motorists and householders by the introduction of additional parking restrictions without provision of off-street parking accommodation?
THE EARL OF GOSFORDMy Lords. I think that that is a complete Question in itself, and I would ask the noble Lord to put it on the Order Paper.