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House of Lords: Peers’ Car Park

At its meeting on 29 November, the Administration and Works Committee agreed to a three-month trial of new access arrangements for Peers’ car park, to begin in the new year. Under the new arrangements, which will improve vehicle security measures, all vehicles will enter the vehicle lane between the steel barriers as is presently the case, but will then drive down the lane to Black Rod’s Garden Entrance and pass through the security search point, before parking in Peers’ car park. As part of the new arrangements, the current ““out”” gate to Peers’ car park will become the entrance, and the current ““in”” gate will become the exit. There will be a short contra-flow section in the vehicle lane where vehicles should give way and the security officers on duty at Black Rod’s Garden Entrance and Peers’ car park entrance will assist the traffic flow if necessary. Members arriving by taxi or chauffeur driven car will still be able to be dropped off or picked up at Peers’ Entrance, but the vehicle must pass through the security search point at Black Rod’s Garden Entrance before approaching Peers’ Entrance. Alternatively, taxis will be able to pick up and drop off Members by the police box at the current ““in”” gate to Peers’ car park, and Members can then walk the short distance to and from Peers’ Entrance. Further details and a diagram of the new access arrangements will be on display in the Peers’ cloakroom from 12 December. The necessary changes will then be made to the Peers’ car park during the Christmas Recess and the new system will start operating from 3 January. The Administration and Works Committee will review the trial in due course and will decide whether to make the arrangements permanent. Any Members with comments or queries about the new arrangements should contact Black Rod.