HL Deb 21 June 2000 vol 614 cc30-1WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What classes of motor vehicle, and for what purposes, are permitted to drive in the London Royal Parks on (a) footpaths; and (b) cycle tracks. [HL2765]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Responsibility for the subject of this question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency. As its Chief Executive, William Weston, has not yet taken up his appointment, I have asked the agency's Head of Policy, Viviane Robertson, to reply on his behalf.

Letter to Lord Berkeley from the Head of Policy of the Royal Parks Agency, Viviane Robertson, dated 21 June 2000.

As the new Chief Executive does not take up his post until 10 July, I have been asked by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to reply to your parliamentary Question about vehicles using the footpaths in the Royal Parks, because this is an operational matter for which the agency is responsible.

The only motor vehicles allowed to use the footpaths in the Royal Parks are those used by park management, the agency's grounds maintenance contractors and the Royal Parks police in the course of carrying out their duties, plus any contractors doing work on behalf of the Royal Parks Agency, provided they have prior written permission. These are also the only vehicles allowed to use cycle routes on footpaths or the closed roads in Richmond Park, which are cycle routes only in the sense that they are routes on which people are allowed to cycle.

Motor vehicles are not allowed to use the cycle tracks on North Carriage Drive.

In addition, the agency has agreed with Historic Royal Palaces that, for the time being, service deliveries may use Jubilee Walk in Kensington Gardens to obtain access to Kensington Palace.