Red route for Parkinson
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• Transport Secretary Cecil Parkinson is considering the introduction of a 'red route' scheme in London to combat traffic congestion.
Under the scheme, anyone discovered parking on London's major arterial routes during business hours would face what Parkinson describes as "really severe penalties".
According to Parkinson, traffic jams constitute one of the biggest threats to the environment: "I can't think of anything more wasteful than congestion — it is a totally pointless polluter because it's nothing but pollution."
Speaking on Radio Four's 'Going Places' programme last week, Parkinson said the red routes scheme was one of a number of "radical" measures the Department of Transport is considering to beat congestion. Parkinson also recognised the importance of road freigt "If you got twice as much freight on to the trains you would still only be carrying 16% of the nation's freight, ; most of the road journeys ar less than 50 miles," he said. "People who say 'put all frei on the rails' are just ignoring the make-up of the moveme that need to take place."