HC Deb 30 July 1951 vol 491 cc945-8
34. Mr. Shepherd

asked the Minister of Transport why Robert Adam Street and the south side of Leicester Square were not included among the areas speci- fied in Statutory Instrument, 1951, No. 737, dealing with the setting up of Festival of Britain "No Waiting" signs.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Barnes)

This Statutory Instrument relates only to certain streets in which I had previously imposed restrictions on the waiting of vehicles and in which the more extensive police restrictions are most conveniently indicated, as provided in the Instrument, by notices of a similar type to those which I had caused to be displayed. The streets mentioned by the hon. Member are not in that category.

Mr. Shepherd

That answer really will not do. Is it not a fact that these signs are marked "Festival of Britain, No Waiting," and that they enable the Commissioner of Police to stop parking up to 9 p.m.? Is it not making a mockery of this House if we have a phony schedule put before us and the Commissioner can come behind our backs and do just what he wishes?

Mr. Barnes

The hon. Member is entirely wrong. The restrictions on these streets are imposed by the police by means of temporary signs. The other instruments referred to are the permanent signs for the "no waiting" streets—what are known as "yellow band" streets.

Mr. Shepherd

does not the Minister realise that these signs bear the marking "Festival of Britain, No Waiting" and that they have the effect of preventing parking up to 9 p.m.? Therefore, they come in the category of those streets dealt with under Statutory Instrument No. 737?

Mr. Barnes

The hon. Member is wrong. I have already stated that the two streets to which he has referred are not yellow band streets.

35. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Transport why traffic from Berkeley Square is diverted to Berkeley Street; and what route traffic from his Department in Berkeley Square to Berkeley Street now has to follow; and what is the distance by the direct route and the one now necessary.

Mr. Barnes

This diversion was introduced to relieve the considerable congestion which previously occurred in Piccadilly between Berkeley Street and St. James's Street, and it has been successful for this purpose. The present route for traffic from Berkeley Square to Berkeley Street is via Hay Hill, Grafton Street, Albemarle Street, Stafford Street, Dover Street, Hay Hill to Berkeley Street. The direct route from Berkeley Square House to the south end of Berkeley Street is approximately 350 yards and the alternative route, 1,075 yards.

Mr. Langford-Holt

does the right hon. Gentleman's statistical mind tell him how many additional car miles are involved in this long route? My information is that the necessary route now is 1,364 yards, as opposed to a considerably shorter distance that the right hon. Gentleman gave. Further, is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he left out some of the streets which are, as I understand, Hay Hill, Dover Street, Grafton Street, Albemarle Street, St. James's Street, Berwick Street, Arlington Street, Piccadilly, Stratton Street, past the Mayfair Hotel and then to Berkeley Street?

Mr. Barnes

The hon. Member appears to have a route of his own. He must take into consideration the fact that this stretch of Piccadilly is intersected by quite a number of turnings, and that the delay to traffic in Piccadilly must be set against the point which the hon. Gentleman has raised.

Mr. Langford-Holt

does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that it is easy to allow traffic to go into Berkeley Street without necessarily allowing it to cross Piccadilly?

38. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to minimise the obstruction to London traffic, he will arrange with the authorities concerned for the Lord Mayor's Show to be held on Saturdays in future.

Mr. Barnes

my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I still have this suggestion under consideration.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

is my right hon. Friend aware that he told me last November that he would consult the Home Secretary about it? Is he aware that present arrangements are very irritating and inconvenient to a large number of adult Londoners who seek to go about their business on Lord Mayor's Day and that the suggestion contained in the Question would provide a much happier day for a large number of children who, at present, cannot see the Lord Mayor's Show at all?

Mr. Barnes

i appreciate those views and I expect to have views of the Home Office very shortly.