HL Deb 18 April 1994 vol 554 cc3-5

2.44 p.m.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to change traffic flows through Hyde Park, and if so, what traffic flow studies and other consultations will be carried out before any changes are considered.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, the Royal Parks Agency, which is responsible for the management of the Royal Parks, has no plans at present to change the traffic flows in Hyde Park. If there is occasion to do so for any reason in the future, the agency will carry out traffic flow studies and consult with the neighbouring traffic authority on the effect of any proposed changes on surrounding roads before implementing any plans.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Can she assure me, though, that she is aware of the difficulty experienced by residents, both north and south of the park, of even the Sunday closures of the south carriage drive? Can she further assure me that there will be consultations with the residents, as those are the people who have all the local traffic completely distorted by any change inside the park?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, we do not consult with individual residents' associations on developments that are planned in the park as there are so many different organisations with interests in the Royal Parks. We canvas the view of interested parties by consulting the local authorities and friends of the individual parks involved and other authorities, such as the Traffic Director for London, as appropriate.

Lord Strabolgi

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that the carriageway in front of the Albert Memorial has been free of traffic now for some years? Will she confirm that that will remain so?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, as I have said, no changes are anticipated at present.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, does my noble friend's Answer mean that the Government appreciate the fact that arbitrary interference with traffic flows almost always turns bad into worse?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I quote Dame Jennifer Jenkins, who stated: The parks are essentially for people on foot and the needs of the pedestrian should be given the highest priority within the parks. The impact of vehicles parked as well as moving should be reduced". But I repeat that no decisions have been taken on the proposals in the report.

Lord Morris of Castle Morris

My Lords, what types of public transport are permitted in Hyde Park; and, if none, why none?

Baroness Trumpington

Well, my Lords, I have millions and millions of supplementary answers but not that one.

Lord Morris of Castle Morris

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that that is normally the reply we hear from her noble friend Lord Ferrers when he cannot think of an answer to the question. I realise that that was a rather difficult question to answer on one's feet, but I would like to know the answer. If the noble Baroness could write to me, I would be obliged.

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, my noble friend the Leader of the House has reminded me that taxis are allowed.

Lord Shaughnessy

My Lords, can the noble Baroness advise the House that, if a study is made on the question of traffic in Hyde Park, due consideration will be given to the interests of cyclists, to whom Hyde Park is very, very important?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I am happy that I have the answer to that supplementary question. Yes, proposals are to be circulated for consultation during the year. At the moment they are excluded from certain paths because of the conflict of use between cyclists and pedestrians.

Baroness Gardner of Parkes

My Lords, will my noble friend keep in mind the conflict between views such as those which she quoted from Dame Jennifer Jenkins, who seems to view the park as something entirely divorced from the local surroundings, and the views of local people? Will she remain confident that local consultation will always take place?

Baroness Trumpington

My Lords, I hate repeating myself but I said that there would be consultation in every kind of direction. I remind my noble friend that the Royal Parks are owned by the Sovereign on right of the Crown. The roads are Crown roads. They are maintained by the Royal Parks Agency, not the local highway authority or the Department of Transport, and they are policed by the Royal Parks Constabulary.