P LETTER OF THE WEEK
Page 20
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A high price to pay to keep the tradesmen out of sight
WHILE TRAVELLING from Bromley, Kent, to Hyde Park we were asked to pull over by the police and were informed that Bird Cage Walk is not a public road, but a Royal Park.
There is apparently a sign on a lamp-post in Parliament Square to indicate this. If anyone can navigate Parliament Square and spot the sign at the same time, then I take my hat off to them. It is impossible, believe me — I tried later in the day. We were then told we could not simply turn around, but had to pay a £30 fine.
Having travelled by CDV (car-derived van) along Bird Cage Walk hundreds of times over the past 25 years. I found this baffling. On questioning the commanding officer present, I was told there were two reasons for this: the Queen does not like to see liveried vehicles; and the threat from terrorism.
This amazed me, as while I was talking to the officer at least 20 fully wrapped taxis went past us without receiving a fine. Also, at no time did any of the officers search our vehicle. We could have paid our fine and detonated a huge device outside Buckingham Palace. Plus the attempted bombings in Haymarket and Glasgow airport were both committed by terrorists in cars, not vans.
The commanding officer agreed with all my points and said: "We haven't enforced this for years but the Secretary of State has a bee in his bonnet and it's travelled down the chain to my governor." I nearly fell over!
This is a law from a bygone era. It was there to keep the working classes separated from the aristocracy. We have moved on now.
Our trip that morning cost our company a total of £44.60 (is congestion charge; £30 fine for upsetting the Queen; €6.60 on parking). Ironically we were tendering for some work. That total will now have to be added to the tender.
We are a small company trying to fight our way through a recession. Surely we should be able to go about our business without being interrupted by Her Majesty's taste for a nice view and a bee in a politician's bonnet.
Sean Davis, Creative PX
Editor's note: Unfortunately under the Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces Regulations 1997 (formerly known as the Royal Parks and Other Gardens Regulations 1972) commercial vehicles, apart from 'lads", are not permitted to travel along the park roads. We are not sure about the Queen's personal taste in vehicle liveries.