PARK
AND
RIDE
23. The progress report on transport submitted to the Committee
by the Government Office for London (for DETR) on 1 April in response
to the Committee's request in its "Second Report: The Millennium
Dome", outlined issues associated with park and ride where
provision was based on dedicated car parks relatively close to
the Dome site. It further outlined the alternative strategy being
pursued by the company to make greater use of existing car parks
around London at or close to the public transport network with
convenient onward links to the Dome.
24. The company has completed its review of the park and ride
strategy and submitted it to the London Borough of Greenwich,
on 29 May, for approval as required under the Section 106 Agreement.
A copy is at ANNEX D. The conclusion is that there is considerable
opportunity for greater use of existing car parks in certain London-wide
locations (identified in the paper).
25. The overall modal split (forecasting means to travel to and
arrival at the Dome by all visitors) has been remodelled in the
light of the revised park and ride strategy and is included in
the paper at ANNEX D. The number of visitors expected to use NMEC
park and ride facilities has reduced and more visitors are now
expected to choose a public transport alternative ads a more attractive
option. Estimates of visitors living fairly close to the site
who are expected to be dropped-off at the Dome ("kiss and
ride") has also increased but the additional car movements
will be more than offset by the reduction in local vehicle movements
through lower demand for park and ride in the area and lower provision
for cars from other parts of London. The company will be discussing
with local transport providers, including bus and coach operators,
the scope for enhancing public transport options during the Millennium
Experience to provide a convenient local alternative to kiss and
ride, so as to reduce yet further local traffic movements.
26. As indicted above, the company's marketing and sale strategies
for Dome tickets will influence travel mode.
PARK
AND
SAIL
27. The park and ride strategy report concluded that local purpose
built, temporary spaces, whether park and ride or park and sail,
should be drastically reduced. The fact that no bids were received,
during the recent tender process for river services, to operate
park and sail was incidental to the report's conclusion. The tender
process did attract successful bids for other river boat services.
Park and sail had been one of the proposed means of achieving
the initial park and ride strategy. It is not, however, a necessity
in terms of meeting the revised strategy.
