HC Deb 12 April 1961 vol 638 cc222-4
10. Mrs. Butler

asked the Minister of Transport what consideration he has given to the dangers, as well as to the inconvenience and amenity aspect of the problem, involved in the parking of commercial vehicles overnight in the street; and what action he proposes to take to deal with this particular aspect of the problem.

Mr. Marples

I am not aware that having commercial vehicles overnight in the street is in general dangerous. The police have powers to deal with particular cases where danger is likely to other persons using the road. If the hon. Member has any such cases in mind she may like to send details to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 22nd March, the primary difficulty in dealing with the inconvenience caused is the absence so far of sufficient off-street parking accommodation.

Mrs. Butler

Is the Minister aware that since the council approached him about this there has been a fatal accident in which a heavy lorry, parked overnight, was involved in Wood Green? Since local authorities in the London transport area are prevented from making traffic regulation orders on subjects such as this, will not he initiate discussions with them to see whether some reasonable regulation can be evolved for parking in residential streets in London?

Mr. Marples

My only concern as a Departmental Minister is with the adequacy of the law. Under Section 16 of the Road Traffic Act, 1960, it is an offence to leave a vehicle where it is likely to cause danger to other persons on the road. The law is adequate in that respect. Under the Removal of Vehicles (England and Wales) Regulations, 1957, the police have powers to remove or cause to be removed vehicles which have been permitted to rest in a way dangerous to other people. The law as it stands is therefore adequate. The question of the enforcement of the existing law is for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the police.

Mr. Gower

Will my right hon. Friend take into account the fact that in some cases the parking of commercial vehicles is for the convenience of drivers? It may have economic advantages in that they can make a get away early in the morning, and so on. If there is no alternative provision, would it not be undesirable to indulge in a lot of prosecutions?

Mr. Marples

I think that we must draw a distinction between inconvenience and the loss of amenities, which is regrettable in itself, and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position where it may cause damage or injury. The law as it now stands is quite adequate to deal with vehicles left in a dangerous position.

Mr. Manuel

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, quite apart from the aspect of danger, which can always exist although at first it may not be apparent, many thousands of commercial vehicles up and down Britain are being left in the streets overnight? Ought he not to take steps to see that the firms responsible provide garage accommodation, in the same way as the drivers of private cars are expected to provide garages in order to take their cars off the streets?

Mr. Marples

From the physical point of view, it will take a considerable time before off-street car parking in this country is adequate. In London and elsewhere it is the responsibility of local authorities to obtain sites and do what they can to provide off-street car parking. When it is provided, the commercial concerns can be forced to use off-street car parking.