Oxford is a prime example where a very enthusiastic and supportive tourism officer managed to persuade councillors that better set-down /pick-up facilities were required in the city around St Giles. With a strong vocal opposition councillors were brave to provide the facilities required. It is, therefore, embarrassing when photoographs are provided of coaches parking on the bays for over one hour and in some cases longer. This is despite the coach park fee being reduced at the same time and a free coach park at the motorway services being available.
It is not only selfish and intrusive in an architecturally-sensitive area of Oxford but it also means all the other coaches that arrive at this beautiful city cannot set down and pick up on the bays provided. The council has now been forced by local pressure to reconsider these bays and the result could be damaging for other coach/tour companies and local businesses.
A similar situation arose at Broadway in the Cotswolds, where coaches were parking in the set down/pick up bay rather than pay the £2 parking fee at the local car/coach park. 1 approached the local authority to do away with the coach-parking charge and this was agreed, but will the selfish driver use the coach park?
In London the same situation arises and causes even more problems. Red Routes in London are meant to be roads where traffic flow is paramount but Transport for London (TfL) does realise that coaches need to set down and pick up at tourist venues such as The Natural History Museum. In fact, at the museum after representation from myself for the CPT it is to increase the number of bays as school groups all want to leave at the same time.
Bob Pilbeam:'industry lets itself down'
You can, therefore, imagine my amazement when, at 1030 hrs while waiting to meet a
group coming in from the airport, I found 11 coaches parked on the current four bays in
the Cromwell Road. They were parked on double red lines and causing serious obstruction
for a busy right turn but they would, I believe, have stayed there all day if a Police
Traffic Warden unit had not turned up.
Now I know that, in London, there is a very, very serious shortage of off-street coach
parks but even this argument could not be used for the Natural History Museum.
| Open Platform gives you the reader, an oppertunity to have your say about issues of direct concern to the coach and bus industry. if you have a point of view on a particular subject you would like to air at length in the magazine, please contact Editor Mike Morgan on 01733 467776 or e-mail mike.morgan@e-map.com |
As many of you know I am also a tourist guide in London and what I do understand more than most owners of coach companies is the enormous pressures their drivers are under, what with slow traffic, aggressive parking attendants, prima -donna tourist guides, drivers' hours regulations and demanding bosses. However, I do believe that coach companies must make it clear to drivers that their abuse of the limited coach facilities available will only result in fewer facilities next time. What can we do, I am asked?
1) Price your job to cover coach parking. 2) Make sure the driver knows that park
ing tickets are his responsibility
3) Ensure drivers are reimbursed quickly for parking fees paid.
4) Inform them of what facilities are available.
Having said all that, the new Tower of London coach park has just opened but, because of the head-in-the-sand attitude of The Tower Environs scheme and Tower Hamlets Council where, for the last five years, they have ignored the concerns about coach facilities, most of the coach park in the peak season will be set-down/pick-up only. So where will the coaches park once they leave the coach park? Probably on the set-down/pickup bays south of the river or alternatively drive round for two hours causing congestion.
My argument about this concern, however, is weakened by drivers abusing the situation where there are alternatives.
