Capital car ban means parking fee for MPs

MEMBERS OF Parliament could be charged pounds 30 a week for parking under the House of Commons as part of the plans to curb traffic around Trafalgar Square and Westminster unveiled yesterday by John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister.

The architect for London's "world square" scheme, Sir Norman Foster, showed a range of artists' impressions of how life around Westminster and Trafalgar Square could be improved by removing the traffic. His designs also showed the House of Lords would look without the unsightly car parking in front of its main entrance surrounding the epic statue of Richard the Lionheart. The parking spaces which will go as part of the plans are normally allocated to peers.

The proposals are likely to upset MPs, who get free parking under the House of Commons as one of the perks of the job. They could now be faced with bills of at least pounds 6 a day as part of Mr Prescott's transport White Paper plans to stop commuters using their cars.

The Commons authorities - like other city centre offices with car parking spaces - will be expected to face a tax bill for its five-storey underground car park for MPs, their staff and workers in Parliament when the new charges come into effect early in the next century.

"It will apply to the House of Commons like anywhere else," Mr Prescott said. "You can't have an exclusion for MPs."

The MPs are likely to argue for an increase in their car allowances before the parking charges are passed on to their offices. It is not clear how much local councils will charge firms for providing parking spaces but some pilot studies have suggested that at least pounds 6 a day would be needed to change people's habits.

Westminster City Council made it clear to Mr Prescott in agreeing to go along with the "world square" designs for central London unveiled yesterday that his proposals for curbing car use would have to be implemented before road closures could come into effect.

As disclosed in yesterday's Independent, the scheme will enable world famous sites in the city to be reclaimed for pedestrians. Trafalgar Square will be closed to traffic on the north side, linking the area around the fountains with the National Gallery. Traffic will also be reduced along Whitehall to allow pedestrians to walk to the Cenotaph without dodging cars, and there are plans to close off part of Parliament Square by Westminster Abbey.

Mr Prescott said: "There is overwhelming public support for turning these historic squares from being giant traffic islands into places where people can relax and enjoy the sights at the heart of our capital."

Plans to banish cars from Princes Street, the historic thoroughfare in the heart of the Edinburgh, have been drawn up by the city council. Private cars would be banned, but taxis, buses and bicycles would still be permitted under the plans which are expected be implemented late next year.

The council is also considering permanently closing a major stretch of the historic Royal Mile to traffic.

Edinburgh has championed the Government's aim of encouraging travellers out of their cars and on to public transport by introducing a series of initiatives. The city's transport convener, David Begg, is an adviser to Mr Prescott.