HC Deb 19 April 1961 vol 638 cc1149-50
31. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce the result of his investigation into the problem of all-night parking of commercial vehicles in Brixton.

Mr. Marples

My investigations into this difficult problem may take some time. I will let the hon. Member know as soon as they are complete.

Mr. Lipton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that not only in Brixton but in many other parts of London the conditions arising from this all-night parking of heavy commercial vehicles have become quite intolerable? Is it not a problem with which he has been acquainted for some time now, and ought not really drastic action to be taken in the very near future?

Mr. Marples

The hon. Member himself has moved locally to try to succeed but, I am afraid, has failed, so I shall do my best to help him, and this is the way we are going to help. We have seen the Metropolitan Police and the City Police and I have seen them again this week, and we are to have discussions with all the Metropolitan boroughs concerned, because what is needed is not so much strengthening of the law as adequate off-street parking facilities. This is a problem especially of amenities. I agree that it applies to many boroughs in London. We will certainly do all we can as quickly as we can.

Mr. Fletcher

May we take it from what the right hon. Gentleman has said that the investigations are covering the whole of London, because this has become an intolerable nuisance and, indeed, a danger, in Islington and other parts of London? May we take it that the Minister will not wait till adequate off-street parking facilities are provided, because meantime in a great many respects a large number of inhabitants in the residential quarters of London are now suffering very seriously?

Mr. Marples

The problem applies to the inner Metropolitan boroughs of London—Bermondsey, Brixton, many others. We shall treat it as a problem of that magnitude.