HL Deb 17 June 1997 vol 580 cc1106-8

3.11 p.m.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which authority is responsible for sanctioning the daily parking of tourist coaches in the no parking area situated on the south end of Great Cumberland Place, W1, affecting traffic flow into Marble Arch.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, the City of Westminster is responsible for parking restrictions in Great Cumberland Place.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her reply. Is she aware that this problem is not restricted solely to Marble Arch? Is she also aware that motorists are becoming more and more resentful at being fined and having their cars towed away in areas where other traffic can park with impunity uncontrolled by police or wardens?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, the City of Westminster is aware of the problems. At the moment it is legal for coaches to load and unload in the particular part of Great Cumberland Place which causes the difficulty. However, in recognising that problem, the City of Westminster will be developing the area next year as a red route to deal with that. Those new traffic regulations will be enforced by the Metropolitan Police.

Lord McConnell

My Lords, is the Minister aware that part of the congestion in Great Cumberland Place is because the traffic lights at the Marble Arch end stay green long enough to allow only three or four vehicles through at a time?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, the noble Lord is perfectly correct. This happens from time to time. The operation of the traffic lights is under review as part of the implementation of the red route. I shall draw his particular concern to the attention of both Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police. When the red route is implemented, there will be a careful review of the process to permit maximum traffic flow.

Lord Ewing of Kirkford

My Lords, if tourist coaches have so much trouble parking in London, will my noble friend issue advice that there is plenty of parking space in the beautiful county of Fife and many other beautiful parts of Scotland?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, I do not wish to undermine the value of tourism in London. However, I cannot but agree that tourists would be well advised to travel to the beautiful county of Fife particularly were they to travel through the beautiful county of Lancashire to get there.

Baroness Rawlings

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there would be much less daily parking of tourist coaches and the blocking of the streets of London if more tourists were encouraged to take the Underground by the Government implementing a clear and agreed strategy to privatise it?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, we are delighted to receive support from the Opposition Benches for my right honourable friend's early review of the options of partnership projects in order to invest in the Underground. The £1.6 billion investment deficit that we inherited from the noble Baroness's party when in government must be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

Lord Berkeley

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the provision of parking for tourist coaches in London is generally very poor, not just in Great Cumberland Place? Does she agree that this should be considered as part of the overall transport review that the Government will commence shortly?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, my noble friend is right. The London Coach Forum, which represents all interest groups, gives consideration to this matter. The work of implementing the red route must be taken alongside work to develop appropriate parking to meet the needs of both tourists and those who need to travel.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, do the Minister and my noble friend have any plans to prevent tourist coaches from parking where ordinary buses stop so that those who use the latter services can get on and off the buses? Sometimes passengers cannot see buses because tourist coaches are parked in the way.

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, this is a problem in London. If the noble Baroness, Lady Strange, is aware of a particular problem and she writes to me, I shall ensure that it is brought to the attention of Westminster City Council and the Metropolitan Police.

Lord Boardman

My Lords, is the Minister aware that tourist coaches create congestion not just by parking but by travelling very slowly in order that places of interest can be pointed out to passengers, as well demonstrated in London this morning?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, I believe that it would be difficult to enforce a regulation that demanded a particular speed of travel. Unless a red route is in place, sometimes it is difficult to move other than at a slow speed. Traffic management is difficult, but we seek to do all that we can to ensure that there is a reasonably free flow of traffic.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu

My Lords, is the noble Baroness aware that measures have been promised year after year? Can the noble Baroness persuade Westminster City Council to do something about it?

Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton

My Lords, the Government are assured that these new red route measures will be put in place early next year. I hope that we shall be able to deal with the problem that the noble Lord has raised.