DISTRIBUTION
OF PARK
AND RIDE
CAR PARK
SPACES
15. Existing railway and underground station car parks situated
on lines directly linked to North Greenwich or entailing only
one change en route and with a minimum of fifty spaces available
are shown on figure 1 and listed in Table 1. These provide over
1700 spaces on weekdays and potentially over 7500 at weekends/holidays
throughout the year. At this stage, the list of stations and available
spaces is indicative. By year 2000 it is possible that additional
spaces will be available at some locations and a reduced number
at others but the broad spread is expected to be of a similar
magnitude. Discussions are continuing with LUL and the rail companies
on the arrangements for facilitating the use of these spaces.
16.These existing car parks provide a reasonable geographic spread
except in the South East where there is o underground network
and rail stations entailing only one change en route with car
parks where more than 50 spaces are regularly available. To deal
with the shortfall of capacity currently identified on weekdays,
particularly in the SE, and having in mind the visitor travelling
from outside London who may be less familiar with the area, it
is proposed to utilise other existing car parks or provide new
capacity in each area which will be operated by or on behalf of
NMEC and to which visitors from outside London will be directed.
17. In the North West, NMEC is discussing the provision of up
to 700 spaces at the existing Wembley Stadium car park, which
will not be required for use in 2000 as the stadium will be undergoing
redevelopment. The stadium is close to Wembley Park Jubilee Line
Station. In addition, NMEC is exploring other possible options
in the area.
18. In the North East, NMEC is currently pursuing a number of
options any of which would provide at least 600 spaces an which
are located close to rail or underground stations. Should these
proposed arrangements not come to fruition, the Limmo site at
Canning Town for which NMEC has planning permission would be developed.
In addition, 200 spaces would be available at weekends with a
further 200 spaces at all times during vacations, which will coincide
with periods of peak demand at the Dome, at the University of
East London site in the Royal Docks close to the DLR.
19. In the South West, 500 spaces are proposed on an existing
car park at Kempton Park race course from which visitors will
travel to MEX from the adjacent Kempton Park railway station via
Waterloo.
20. In the South East, in the absence currently of an alternative
existing car park located at or close to the rail network, NMEC
intends to develop 1000 spaces at Royal Arsenal, Woolwich from
which it is proposed that visitors will be transported by shuttle
bus to the Dome. In addition, NMEC is in discussions with University
of Greenwich about the use of campus car parks, which could potentially
provide up to 200 spaces throughout the year with an additional
300 spaces during vacations, which will co-incide with periods
of peak demand at the Dome. Dartford railway station would be
utilised for the onward link to the Dome. These discussions have
not yet concluded and these figures are, therefore, tentative.
However, NMEC has been contacted very recently about two other
potential sites in the South East. It is too early to give details
of these but either is potentially an attractive option which
could in due course be substituted for capacity currently proposed
in the South East without reducing the number of spaces.
21. In total the number of spaces potentially regularly available—over
4,500 on weekdays and almost 11,000 at weekends, with additional
spaces in vacations—far exceeds forecast demand at all times
of the year. The distribution of sites is such as to give good
coverage throughout London, with satisfactory provision for visitors
in each sector. At least one NMEC operated site will be provided
in each sector to ensure that visitors travelling from every direction
are able to pre-book a convenient parking space. The strategy
set out above is robust and has built-in flexibility but the evaluation
of other car parks that might become available will be ongoing.
Depending on the outcome of the various discussions that are taking
place other sites might be added or substituted for those listed
at Table 1 should these prove more advantageous or if necessary.
EXISTING PLANNING
APPLICATIONS
22. NMEC submitted five planning applications for temporary purpose
built car parks. NMEC is keen to keep its options open until the
arrangements for the strategy described above are in place. However,
mindful of the concerns previously expressed when the application
for Falconwood was submitted and despite its ideal location for
the South East, NMEC proposes to withdraw that planning application.
It is not now the intention to develop either of the Barking or
Thamesmead car parks and those planning applications will be withdrawn
once it is clear that the arrangements described above can be
put in place. The resolutions to grant planning permission received
for car parks at Royal Arsenal and Limmo will continue to be pursued
within the context of this strategy.
TICKETING AND
OPERATION
23. All tickets for the Dome will be pre-booked. Visitors will
have the opportunity to make their mode choice and travel plans
when the Dome ticket is purchased. Spaces in NMEC car parks, travel
and the Dome ticket will be available as a pre-booked package.
Visitors from outside London will be directed to pre-booked spaces
in car parks controlled by NMEC in the most convenient location.
Pre-booked spaces will also be available in these car parks to
visitors from within London although such visitors will be encouraged
to use their local underground or rail stations. NMEC will discuss
the scope for pre-booked packages with LUL and the rail companies
in respect of the use of rail or underground station car parks.
SIGNING AND
TRAVEL INFORMATION
24. A signing strategy for the park and ride sites will be submitted
to LB Greenwich for approval in accordance with Clause 23(a) of
the Millennium Experience section 106 Agreement. The strategy
will address the signing of routes to car parks. It will be formulated
following discussions with relevant highway authorities on the
optimum routes and positioning of signs. In addition, comprehensive
travel and route information will be available, relevant to the
area in which the ticket is bought, at the time of purchase.
29 May 1998
