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Parking Problem

27th April 1962, Page 27
27th April 1962
Page 27
Page 27, 27th April 1962 — Parking Problem
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IN a way Mr. Albert Evans, M.P., may have done the long-distance goods transport industry a favour, although it is doubtful whether he intended to bestow such when he raised in the House of Commons recently the question of the parking of goods vehicles in certain London residential streets. It is something which has even more serious aspects than Mr. Evans brought forward. Besides the question of possible nuisance (Mr. Evans was mainly concerned with his constituents in Islington, South West), there is the question of security. As The Commercial Motor pointed out on March 23 parked goods vehicles, even in well-lit areas, are a tempting target for criminals. So operators, as well as Mr. Evans, have no desire to see these vehicles on the streets.

The favour Mr. Evans did for hauliers was to obtain from Mr. John Hay, the Parliamentary Secretary, a Ministry of Transport statement that was extremely sympathetic towards operators' problems in this matter. Mr. Hay reinforced the demands many responsible operators have been making for the provision of suitable areas, either by converting bombed sites or by trying to arrange the provision of multi-storey lorry parks. He said: "This may be a difficult thing to arrange, and in any event it would be expensive, but what is certain is that we cannot let the situation go on as it is."

Operators welcome the firm expression of Ministry understanding of their difficulties and of resolve to remedy those difficulties. They will , now wait with considerable interest to hear the conclusions reached by the Ministry of Transport's working committee, set up a year ago, to study the problem. The Commercial Motor understands that the working committee have not yet reached the stage of announcing conclusions but are still considering various aspects of the lorry-parking question in an endeavour to take account of everyone's viewpoint.

The Ministry have shown a commendable lead in this matter by getting together everyone concerned and by not trying to force hasty action. Operators now expect them to display no lack of urgency in pressing the action to a suitable conclusion. They will then have performed a very valuable service.

Lorry Routes

THIS question of parking is related closely to the Minister's pre-Easter announcement of a projected special "Lorry Route" linking the London Docks and Smithfield and Covent Garden markets with M1 and Al. On the whole, operators will approve this idea—provided that the Ministry, by catering for goods vehicles5 also lends its authority to the provision of suitable parking places. One good aspect about this latest idea is that the operators' associations were consulted all the time. Several different routes were surveyed before the announced one was settled, and to be honest (with the possible exception of the Ludgate Circus area) it appears to be a good route.

However, whether or not the 6,500 goods vehicles a day which are expected to use the new route, when it comes into effect, find the experiment a success will depend on the measures taken to provide a clear passage for them.

The movement of goods vehicles in London grew by 90 per cent. between 1954 and 1960. At present, the volume of movement represents well over a 100 per cent. increase in eight years. It is good to know that the economic value of this vast increase is recognized.

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Locations: London

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