HC Deb 31 May 1962 vol 660 cc1564-7
11. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the congestion which occurs nightly in Down Street, London, W.1, where cars are parked on both sides of the street and often half on the pavement, in Derby Street, and in Chesterfield Gardens where three and sometimes four lines of cars are parked to the great inconvenience of residents; and what action he is taking to prevent this congestion.

Mr. Renton

The Commissioner of Police is aware that obstruction is sometimes caused by vehicles parked in these streets, but, in view of the shortage of manpower, the police must at present give priority to keeping the principal thoroughfares clear. My hon. Friend's Question has, however, been brought to the notice of police officers on duty in the area.

Mr. Johnson

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that it is virtually impossible at night to pass through some of these streets and that Chesterfield Gardens is a cul-de-sac and, since motorists are not always aware of this fact, they enter the street and then have to turn round in order to come out again, thus making matters much worse? At least, could a sign be erected at the entrance of Chesterfield Gardens indicating that it is a cul-de-sac, and also might it be possible for some of the police who not so long ago were extremely active in Curzon Street to go round and look at the motor cars parked there?

Mr. Renton

I have no doubt that the Commissioner will bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said. I ask him to remember that the streets named in his Question are used by only a small amount of traffic in the evenings and it would be difficult to justify large-scale removal of vehicles or other proceedings by the police.

Mr. Johnson

Does not my hon. and learned Friend realise that he is quite wrong in saying that Chesterfield Gardens, for instance, is used by only a small number of cars at night? It is absolutely jammed at night and people find it quite impossible to get in and out of Chesterfield Gardens.

Mr. P. Williams

That is why so few cars use it.

12. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been drawn to the dangerous practice of parking cars by night on street corners in London so as to make it impossible for a motorist entering from a side street to see traffic; and if he will make and enforce regulations to prevent this practice.

Mr. Renton

The police already have adequate powers to deal with any vehicle which is left on a road in such circumstances as to be likely to cause danger to other users of the road, and I am informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that a large proportion of the cars removed by the police are removed because they are causing serious obstruction at road junctions.

Mr. Johnson

Will my hon. and learned Friend visit Curzon Street— it would be perfectly proper for him to do so— and see for himself whether there is a car parked right on every street corner, with the result that it is quite impossible for drivers coming out of the side streets to see other traffic, and it is equally impossible for motorists in Curzon Street to see vehicles coming in? Is not this an extremely dangerous state of affairs?

Mr. Renton

I have, of course, visited Curzon Street, and I should gladly do so again in order to examine the conditions to Which my hon. Friend has referred, but I ask my hon. Friend to bear in mind that the enforcement of the traffic law is a matter for the Commissioner and that, even if I were to inform myself in the way that my hon. Friend suggests, it would still be for the Commissioner to decide how to deal with the matter.

31. Mr. Tomney

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that appropriate police action is taken to prohibit the all-night parking of long-distance lorries in Aldine Street, Shepherd's Bush, W.12.

Mr. Renton

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the local police give such attention to this problem as their other responsibilities permit, and that suitable action is taken when a breach of the law is observed.

Mr. Tomney

That is all very well, but is not the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there are adequate enclosed car-parking facilities available within 200 yards of this area which are not used, that minor accidents are being caused to children who play around the lorries in the evenings, and that my constituents are being kept awake at all hours of the night by lorries arriving and departing? As car-parking facilities are available within 200 yards, why cannot the police insist upon them being used to the full?

Mr. Renton

It is not quite as easy as the hon. Gentleman has mentioned. The street is, in fact, little used for through-traffic and, therefore, it is not easy to get a prosecution for obstruction. Nevertheless, the police have taken action in a good many cases in the last twelve months. On the question of the general nuisance caused by night parking of lorries, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has appointed a working party to hold an inquiry.

Mr. Tomney

The Minister's statement is not true. The street is used for through-traffic. Anybody who knows the area will realise that Shepherds Bush can be avoided by using this area. It sometimes cuts out as much as twenty minutes' waiting time at traffic lights. It is no good saying the street is not used. Car-parking facilities are available and should be used, and the police should have authority to ensure that they are used. Will the hon. and learned Gentleman do something about it?

32. Mr. Lipton

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action is being taken by the Metropolitan Police to deal with the growing inconvenience caused by parking of private and commercial vehicles in residential areas.

Mr. Renton

Inconvenience in itself is not a ground for police action, but I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that suitable action is taken when a breach of the law is observed.

Mr. Lipton

Does not the hon. and learned Gentleman realise that that kind of answer, which we have been getting for a long time past, gives no satisfaction at all to the residents who are affected by all the day and night parking that goes on? Does he not realise that this is an intolerable nuisance? Is it not a fact that the matter has been brought to the attention of the various Government Departments concerned on many occasions during many months past and yet nothing is being done to provide those who live in the residential areas of London with the peace and quiet to which they are entitled?

Mr. Renton

As I indicated in answer to a previous Question, the Minister of Transport realises that this is a question which needs to be looked into and is having an inquiry into it. Meanwhile, the duty of the police is to enforce the law. They have, of course, to enforce the law relating to obstruction of highways. They have no power to enforce a law which does not exist, and there is no law which prevents minor inconvenience, or even major inconvenience, of this kind unless a criminal offence is committed.

Mr. Fletcher

Does not the hon. and learned Gentleman realise that this is not merely a question of inconvenience and obstruction? Have there not been numerous cases in which the habit of parking lorries in private streets has encumbered the fire services in dealing with fire risks in residential areas of London?

Mr. Renton

I understand that where that occurs, if it occurs on the highway, then there is, of course, obstruction, and the police are able to take action.