Coach trouble
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NEW TOP London policeman Sir Kenneth Newman has criticised the Government's policy of liberalising coach service.
The recent growth in commuter and inter-city coach services is continuing to cause trouble for the London police, the Metropolitan Commissioner has confirmed in his annual report.
"The recent relaxation in the legislation relating to coach operation has created many difficulties for police. Operators are able to choose terminals, routes and picking up points without police having any opportunity to make representations."
The main black spots are Victoria Coach Station and Kings Cross — at Victoria the space available is inadequate to deal with arrivals and departures, while off-street facilities have to be used at peak holiday times.
Despite meetings to thrash out the problems, no solution has been found as there is no space available for expansion of the coach station.
Sir Kenneth pointed out that non-licensed operators of long distance services were using the streets around the station, adding to the congestion.
The police are having to hold the ring between licensed and non-licensed operators at Kings Cross where complaints of obstruction have been made against their rivals, although Sir Kenneth insisted that the police tried to enforce the law on all sides, He also revealed differences with the Greater London Council over bus lanes. The police were opposed to new proposals for a contra-flow lane between Euston Road and Cambridge Circus, via Tottenham Court Road and Charing Cross Road.
Sir Kenneth said that 269 coaches including some British ones had been removed during 1982 for parking offences.