HC Deb 18 May 1953 vol 515 cc1675-7
18. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now institute a system of unilateral parking in Jermyn Street.

Mr. Braithwaite

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wembley, South (Mr. Russell) and my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Norfolk, Central (Brigadier Medlicott) on 27th April.

Mr. Langford-Holt

Would my hon. Friend apply to this problem some of the inevitable promptitude to which he has just referred? Is he aware that at present there are cars parked on both sides of Jermyn Street and that traffic, which at present is two-way, is unable to move in either direction? Can my hon. Friend say what he is doing about it?

Mr. Braithwaite

The reply to which I referred my hon. Friend did show the promptitude with which we are dealing with this matter. One of the difficulties about Jermyn Street is that it is too narrow for unilateral waiting. It was tried before the war. The street is considered still to be too narrow.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Would it not be very much simpler to ban parking on both sides of Jermyn Street at all times, and thus provide a suitable alternative for Piccadilly traffic and avoid congestion there?

Mr. Braithwaite

If the hon. and gallant Gentleman were engaged in business in Jermyn Street, I think he would deprecate that suggestion.

19. Mr. Langford-Holt

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now institute a system of unilateral parking in Park Street, Mayfair.

Mr. Braithwaite

We will consider this when the working of the present experimental scheme of unilateral waiting in other London streets is reviewed at the end of July.

Mr. Langford-Holt

As it is proposed that this unilateral parking scheme should go on for six months, and as anybody except the Ministry can see the results of unilateral parking in other streets in one week, would my hon. Friend consider instituting this system as part of the rapid procedure he indicated earlier?

Mr. Braithwaite

We did say that there would be a six months' experimental period, but that does not debar us from observing the results before that period elapses.