Cabinet Member Report
Date:
Subject:
4 May 2007
Tour De France 2007 – Residents’ Parking Controls
Summary
This report considers the impact of the start of the 2007 Tour de France race
(figure 1) on residents’ parking in nearby streets.
Recommendations
1. That approval be given to extend temporarily the controlled hours for residents’
parking bays in the parking zones A2, D & H to 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. on
Saturday 7 July 2007 and Sunday 8 July 2007 (see figure 2).
2. That approval is given to traffic orders being made under section 6 and/or under
sections 16A and/or 45 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, in order to give
effect to the recommendation above and to the statement of reasons in
Appendix 1.
Page 1 of 7
Cabinet Member Report
City of Westminster
Cabinet Member
Date:
Classification:
Title of Report:
Report of:
Wards involved:
Economic Development and Transport
4 May 2007
For General Release
Tour De France 2007 – Residents’ Parking
Controls
Director of Parking Services
Churchill, Knightsbridge & Belgravia, St.
James’s, Vincent Square, & Warwick
Policy context:
The main focus of RUDP Policies TRANS 21-26 is
that the City Council will seek to control on-street
and off-street parking in the interests of traffic
restraint, and to reduce the overall level of
parking, while maintaining adequate availability
of parking space for essential and priority users.
Residents are classified as priority users.
Financial summary:
The estimated implementation costs arising from
the recommendations in this report are £12,000
together with costs of £4,000 for the traffic
orders. The estimated costs for the additional
enforcement is £4,000 per annum, which is
included in the totals cost of £12,000.
Report Author:
Philip Basher
Contact details
020 7641 3010
pbasher@westminster.gov.uk
Page 2 of 7
1.
BACKGROUND
1.1
The World famous 2007 Tour de France cycle race will start in London over the
weekend of 6th – 8th July, and this report reviews the potential impact on parking
facilities for residents. This event is being marketed as the “Grand Depart”, and
the Mayor of London’s office is expecting over one million visitors over the
weekend.
1.2
The programme of events is:



Friday 6 July an opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square
Saturday 7 July the prologue with an 8 km race starting on Whitehall and
finishing on the Mall. This route is south on Whitehall to Parliament
Square, onto Victoria Street, Buckingham Gate, passing in front of the
Palace and along Constitution Hill to Hyde Park Corner into Hyde Park
and along South Carriage Drive, onto West Carriage Drive. The racers
then turn east along Serpentine Road, return to Hyde Park Corner,
Constitution Hill and along the Mall to finish, see figure 1.
Sunday 8 July, Stage 1 race from central London to Canterbury. This race
starts on the Mall, and travels east to Trafalgar Square, and the onto
Northumberland Avenue, Victoria Embankment and over the Thames on
Westminster Bridge, see figure 1.
1.3
The last event with a similar impact in central London was the Queen’s Golden
Jubilee celebrations in early June 2002.
2.
REVIEW OF THE IMPACT ON RESIDENTS’ PARKING
2.1
TfL, the Tour’s organiser and the City Council are keen to encourage visitors to
use public transport to access the “Grand Depart” events, and to avoid parking
problems for residents in the central area. In June 2002 the Council introduced
temporary residents’ parking controls over a wide area encompassing Hyde
Park, Green & St. James’s Parks, and Buckingham Palace. These applied over
the weekend and the two bank holidays (1st – 4th June 2002) from 8.30 a.m. – 10
p.m., as there were also evening celebrations.
2.2
Except for the initial opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square the remainder of the
Tour’s events will take place during the day and therefore there is no need for
evening residents’ parking controls. Nevertheless, there are certain areas close
to the main events’ sites that may be vulnerable to excess demand for parking
space during the day, i.e. :


Parking Zones D/H normal residents’ parking controls are Monday –
Friday 8.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.
Parking Zone A2 normal residents’ parking controls are Monday – Friday
8.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m. & Saturday 8.30 a.m. – 1.30 p.m.
Page 3 of 7
2.3
The other parking zones in the vicinity of these events have extended residents’
parking controls, including Sundays either 24 hours (Zones E & G) or to 10 p.m.
Zone A3/4. A map showing the current residents’ parking controls is attached as
figure 2.
2.4
It is likely that Westminster’s parking enforcement services will be called upon to
suspend parking bays (including residents’) and assist in vehicle removals for the
race’s, to assist the Metropolitan Police, to aid pedestrian movement and provide
open emergency vehicle access.
3.
3.1
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
The estimated financial impact of the proposals in this report, which can be met
from the street parking account, are summarised in the table below.
Item
Traffic Orders
Manufacture, installation & removal of temporary
signs
Additional parking attendant enforcement
Removal trucks
Contingency
Sub-Total
Less potential PCN income
Total
Total cost
£4,000
£3,000
£4,000
£2,000
£3,000
£16,000
£1,000
£15,000
4.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1
Traffic orders will need to be made under Section 6 and/or Section 16A and/or
Section 45 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 for temporary extension of
parking controls.
5.
PERFORMANCE PLAN IMPLICATIONS
5.1
The draft 2007/08 Parking Services Business Plan does not contain a specific
performance target in respect of the matters set out in this report. However, the
plan includes the concepts of improving customer service and protecting the
environment.
6.
WARD MEMBER CONSULTATION
6.1
The Members for Churchill, Knightsbridge & Belgravia, St. James’s, Vincent
Square, & Warwick Wards were asked for their views on the proposal contained
in this report and no adverse comments have been received.
Page 4 of 7
7.
PROGRAMME
7.1
Once the Cabinet Member decision has been taken, the following proposals will
be implemented:





Draft, advertise, and make the temporary traffic orders – 4 weeks.
Order new signs for residents’ parking bays – 6 weeks.
Install new signs – 1 weeks
Uncover new residents’ parking signs – 1 day
Implement temporary extended residents’ parking controls on 7th & 8th July
2007.
8.
CONCLUSIONS AND REASONS FOR THE PROPOSED DECISION
8.1
Given the expected visitor numbers it is recommended that Parking Zones A2, D
& H should be given temporary extended residents parking controls. These
would apply on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th July between 8.30 a.m. – 6.30 p.m.,
see figure 2. It will be necessary to draft and make temporary traffic orders.
This will ensure that residents’ parking bays are protected due to the expected
large volumes of visitors for the “Grand Depart” of the 2007 Tour de France and
will encourage visitors and spectators to use public transport.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES ABOUT THIS REPORT OR WISH TO INSPECT
ANY OF THE BACKGROUND PAPERS, PLEASE CONTACT Philip Basher ON
020 7641 3010; EMAIL ADDRESS pbasher@westminster.gov.uk
For completion by Cabinet Member
Declaration of Interest

I have no interest to declare in respect of this report
Signed ……………………………. Date ………………………………
NAME: Councillor Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and
Transport
Page 5 of 7

I have to declare an interest
State nature of interest ……..……………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………..
Signed ……………………………. Date …………………………………
NAME: Councillor Danny Chalkley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and
Transport
(N.B.: If you have an interest you should seek advice as to whether it is appropriate to
make a decision in relation to this matter.)
For the reasons set out above, I agree the recommendation(s) in the report entitled
TOUR DE FRANCE 2007 – RESIDENTS’ PARKING CONTROLS.
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Transport
Date …………………………………………………
For Ward Specific Reports Only
In reaching this decision I have given due regard to any representations made
by relevant Ward Members.
Signed ………………………………………………
Cabinet Member for ………………………..
Date …………………………………………………
If you have any additional comment which you would want actioned in connection with
your decision you should discuss this with the report author and then set out your
comment below before the report and this pro-forma is returned to the Secretariat for
processing.
Additional comment: …………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………………………………….
Page 6 of 7
NOTE: If you do not wish to approve the recommendations, or wish to make an
alternative decision, it is important that you consult the report author, the Director of
Legal and Administrative Services, the Director of Finance and, if there are staffing
implications, the Head of Human Resources (or their representatives) so that (1) you
can be made aware of any further relevant considerations that you should take into
account before making the decision and (2) your reasons for the decision can be
properly identified and recorded, as required by law.
Note to Cabinet Member: Your decision will now be published and copied to the
Members of the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee. If the decision falls
within the criteria for call-in, it will not be implemented until five working days
have elapsed from publication to allow the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to
decide whether it wishes to call the matter in.
Page 7 of 7