HC Deb 21 March 1962 vol 656 cc384-5
33. Mr. Stodart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, before approving the installation of parking meters in George Street, Charlotte Square and St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, he took full account of the shortage of off-street parking facilities at present available in the city; and what study he made of other possible solutions to the problem of long-term parking.

Mr. Brooman-White

These proposals by Edinburgh Corporation were the subject of a public inquiry at which the facilities for off-street parking and other ways of dealing with the problem of long-term parking were discussed. After considering the evidence, the Reporter's conclusion was that the Corporation's proposals are justified; and my right hon. Friend saw no reason not to accept it.

Mr. Stodart

Is it not the case that this was the first application of its kind either for Edinburgh or for any city in Scotland, and as George Street and Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, have particular architectural merits, would it not have been a worth-while experiment to have tried either the disc scheme from Paris or the scheme that has been operating successfully in Leicester, which would have made it unnecessary to erect parking meters on these squares?

Mr. Brooman-White

I think my hon. Friend will realise that this is a matter for the highway authority. The Edinburgh Corporation put forward a scheme and, after an inquiry which saw no reason for not accepting it as satisfactory, we accepted that scheme.

Mr. MacArthur

Nevertheless, is the Minister aware how ugly parking meters are and the extent to which they will spoil the architectural beauty of Edinburgh? Is it not a fact that the results of the Leicester traffic wardens scheme were available after the Edinburgh inquiry took place? Will he study the results of the inquiry to see whether it is possible to replace the ugly parking meters now proposed for Edinburgh with a scheme of that kind?

Mr. Brooman-White

That is for the corporation and not for us to consider in the first instance.