HC Deb 15 July 1970 vol 803 cc1510-1
14. Mr. Iremonger

asked the Minister of Transport how soon he expects to be able to complete the consideration he is giving, with the Greater London Council, to plans for dealing with the nuisance of the parking overnight of large lorries in private residential roads in Ilford and elsewhere.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

Traffic regulation in the London area is a matter for the Greater London Council. But I welcome the experimental scheme the council is preparing to ban overnight parking of goods vehicles from specific streets in a limited zone. The scheme will be of particular interest because of my Department's special study on lorry parking problems in the North-West of England.

Mr. Iremonger

What we want to know is how soon this will have an effect in Ilford? Can the Minister say what is the root cause of this problem, which has developed in the last year or so?

Mr. Heseltine

The G.L.C. hopes to have the scheme in operation by the end of this year. To discover the general root cause is, of course, the purpose of the studies to which I have referred.

Mr. Molloy

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in the London Borough of Ealing the parking of vehicles, particularly heavy vehicles, is a growing menace and is having a deleterious effect on the standard of living? Is he aware that many vehicles, particularly those passing near Western Avenue, are apt to avoid that motorway and pass through residential areas, where they cause grave discomfort to property? [HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."] Not too long for my constituents. Would he not agree that there ought to be a joint conference of representatives of his Department, the G.L.C. and London boroughs to examine this problem?

Mr. Heseltine

I think the hon. Member will welcome the G.L.C.'s determination to get this scheme into operation by the end of this year. Perhaps it might be welcome if he would wait until my Department publishes its North-West study, which it hopes to do by the end of this year.