§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what criteria he used in determining that the present pedestrian crossing on Westminster bridge road opposite Belvedere road requires special approval for its retention;
(2) to whom the responsibility for switching on lights at the cycle facility on Westminster bridge road has been transferred following the abolition of the Greater London council;
(3) what criteria he used in deciding to instruct the London borough of Lambeth to close the space in the centre island of Westminster bridge road opposite Belvedere road;
(4) why he has instructed the traffic control systems unit to remove the cycle signals on Westminster bridge road at its junction with Belvedere road.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyAll signalled pedestrian crossings in London and elsewhere that are not pelican crossings require my right hon. Friend's approval under the provisions of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 1981. My right hon. Friend is also responsible for all traffic light signals in London. There is a difficult design problem still to be resolved about the appropriate pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities at the southern end of Westminster bridge, where Lambeth borough council became the highway authority last April. This has to be worked out between my Department, the traffic control systems unit and Lambeth council. The sole consideration in the Department's actions since the original authorisation was given has been to ensure that lives are not put at risk by the present incomplete state of the facility.