GLC shuttle aims for casual tourists
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FOREIGN tourists in London could be forced to forsake their tour coaches and use a coach shuttle service between London's main tourist attractions if an idea suggested by Greater London Council ever gets off the ground.
Such a service, says a GLC officer's report, could substantially cut the number of casual tours. A recommendation that talks on this subject to be held with coach operators and other parties was put to the council's planning and communications policy committee this week.
The problems of foreign coaches illegally parking in London is highlighted in the report which serves to show that despite some improvements, stilt no where near enough overnight parking spaces are available for coaches in the main hotel areas of central London.
In a recent survey undertaken by GLC staff in Westminster and Earls Court over 70 coaches were found illegally parked, of these 53 were registered abroad.
Shelagh Roberts, GLC committee leader, said last week that "Tourism has brought London rich rewards in recent years and congestion from coaches is part of the price we have to pay.
We have had considerable success in finding short term parking on temporary sites but we must act now to safeguard the future situation.
"One important way of easing the coach problems is to encourage tourists to visit some of London's lesser known attractions and to do what thousands do already — see the sights by public transport."
A spokesman for London coach operators told CM that while the proposed shuttle service would benefit the increased number of foreign visitors travelling on their own it would in no way serve the needs of groups who travel in their own coach, with a qualified guide speaking their own language.
He pointed out that a group of 50 non-English speaking tourists descending on to the London tube system is the rush hour would not be popular with commuters and the tourists would find a certain amount of discomfort.