Pay to park; Dip
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• Coach operators should pay for the space they use when parking, a new Department of Transport Department report recommends.
The report on tourist coaches in London takes a frank look at the continuing problems associated with accommodating them and particularly in matching the supply of short and long-term parking spaces with the demand for them.
It says that land owners are not keen to develop coach parking facilities because, even on a temporary basis, they do not give them the opportunity to maximise their land holding values.
Local authorities find it difficult to include provision for coaches in their planning briefs because generally, no-one is in favour of coaches — except the coach and tour operators, their employees and their clients.
Local councillors are democratically elected and are likely to reflect the views of their electorate," it adds.
The nature of commercial developments means there will be few London sites on a scale large enough to include provisions for coach parking. Structural considerations also make it difficult to include coach facilities on the lower levels of buildings.
The report notes that many coach operators, whether British or foreign, expect free parking on the basis that they feel their passengers bring revenue into London. They deserve favourable treatment the DTp says, but points out that they do not have to pay charges such as motorway tolls and entry taxes common in other European countries.
It says that there is no mechanism which can link the coach operator's expectation of free or cheap parking with the site owner's expectation of a fair return on investment.
The report says Westminster City Council is considering increasing the number of on-street parking places and controlling them with a pre-bookable coacha for use in pay and display machines at the roadside.
This scheme is expected start in June and will be rur conjunction with the Londoi Visitor and Convention Bureau.
Another possibility being actively considered is the provision of a coach courier service to provide advice al information to drivers on streets in Central London.
The report is published ti canvass views and is availak free of charge from the Department of Transport, C10/12, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1? 3E13,