Biriningham Waiting Ban Inquiry
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ANY exception relating to the picking-up or setting-down of passengers and the loading or unloading of goods would negative the council's objects, Aid. A. Lummis Gibson, chairman of the watch committee, said in Birmingham last week.
He was supporting, at a Ministry ot Transport inquiry, Birmingham City Council's proposal to ban parking at 47 approaches to the city's 18 main junctions. The plan also seeks to ban any waiting for, picking-up or settingdown of passengers, or loading and unloading of goods, between 8 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays, and 8 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. and 12 noon and 2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Mr. W. Wood, assistant town clerk, said that Birmingham's traffic congestion had increased greatly in recent years, and most of the trouble was caused at junctions by stationary vehicles. The highways should be kept clear for the movement and passage of traffic which, in turn, would benefit all road users. One car stopping on many of the roads in question reduced the effectiveness by 50 per cent.. he said.
The council's plan would alleviate pressure. " Inconsiderate road users" were largely to blame for the proposed introduction of the restrictions.
There were more than 20 objectors to the plan. ln most cases, the objections referred to the loading and unloading of goods. Mr. C. E. Jordan, chairman of the transport committee of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. attended the inquiry.
Mr. J. Foley Eggington, for the Chamber of Commerce, Traders' Road Transport Association and other trade associations, said that if the parking of cars at the junctions could be eliminated, traffic congestion would be alleviated. He asked that nothing be done to interfere with trade, and sub
mitted that the proposed order was punitive.
Mr. Wood said the only alternative to preventing vehicles parking at the approaches to the junctions would be a complete ban on private cars parking in the central areas of the city,