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House of Lords: Peers' Car Park

On 8 December 2011, I made a Written Statement to the House notifying Members that the Administration and Works Committee had agreed to a three-month trial of new vehicle access arrangements in the Peers’ car park. These new arrangements were put in place on 3 January 2012. Following feedback from Members, on 16 January I made an oral Statement to the House, informing Members that I had asked Black Rod to produce an interim report on the trial for the Administration and Works Committee to consider at its next meeting. On 7 February, the Administration and Works Committee considered this report and unanimously concluded that there were compelling security grounds for continuing with the trial arrangements. A number of small changes have already been introduced which have significantly reduced delays and inconvenience. In the longer term, it will be possible to remedy most of the other difficulties with the new arrangements and improve the safety of pedestrians by altering the layout of the car park and steel barriers. In particular, the Committee agreed that further work should be taken forwards with a view to: creating a specially designated lay-by for taxis, which would allow taxis to drop off and pick up passengers without impeding pedestrian access and without causing congestion for other vehicles; locating this lay-by directly opposite Peers’ Entrance, to shorten the distance between the taxi drop-off point and Peers’ Entrance; altering the access arrangements for leaving Peers’ car park to speed up exit times; and rearranging the street furniture to remove the short section of contra-flow traffic and provide a clearly delineated walkway for pedestrians. These significant improvements cannot be made immediately. In the mean time, Black Rod is willing to attend party and group meetings to brief Members orally on the proposed improvements. Members of the Administration and Works Committee are also willing to discuss this at their own party meetings. The Administration and Works Committee will continue to monitor the new arrangements in Peers’ car park, and will seek to make further improvements where necessary.