Memorandum submitted by the Head of Urban
Environment (TfL Design Champion), Transport for London
Firstly I would like to state Transport for
London's support for a Parliamentary Visitors Centre. As a steering
group member of the World Squares for All (WSfA) project we are
pleased that steps are being taken to enhance this world heritage
site and the visitor experience.
In answer to the questions from your letter
dated 7 June 2006.
1. Does TfL have a view on the suitability
of either Abingdon Green or Victoria Tower Gardens as potential
sites for a Parliamentary Visitor Centre?
TfL consider that the suitability of Abingdon
Green or Victoria Tower Gardens as sites for a Parliamentary Visitor
Centre may be questionable depending on the size and positioning
of the visitor facility. These spaces are currently two of only
a few open spaces in the area and in our view they should remain
so. If the centre is to attract 1.3 million visitors a year one
would suspect that it would be a comprehensive visitor experience
and would require a large building, this may not be suitable for
these sites.
We would also ask for further consideration
to be given to the use of other existing buildings on potential
sites adjacent to Parliament Square. There is also currently a
requirement for a Heritage and Abbey visitors centre, and it may
be possible to combine these.
2. Does TfL have a view on whether there
is a need for a Visitor Centre dedicated to Parliament whose function
would be to provide information for visitors to explain how Parliament
works and its purpose?
TfL agrees that there is a need for a visitor
centre dedicated to Parliament, though we do not agree that this
has to be accommodated in a new building in Abingdon Street or
Victoria Tower Gardens.
3. Does TfL consider that the scope of the
project proposed by previous Committees is appropriate: ie an
exhibition space explaining the work and role of Parliament; accommodation
for school parties and their reception; a bookshop or retail facility;
a ticket office for tours of Parliament and a display area for
pictures and artefacts from Parliament's collection?
TfL agrees that the scope is appropriate. However
we would also suggest that the scope could be widened slightly
to allow a consistent visitor experience from a Parliamentary,
Abbey and Historic view point. This could be by co-location or
a single ticket offer etc.
A recent survey undertaken by MORI estimated
that a new Parliamentary Visitor Centre could attract 1.3 million
UK and overseas visitors a year (currently 650,000 visit Parliament
each year).
4. Does TFL think that this is a reasonable
estimate?
From your web site it appears that the 650,000
visitors to Parliament each year come for a very different range
of reasons. Whether all the visitors would use the centre is not
entirely clear and to expect more than double the visitor numbers
might seem optimistic. However the area currently receives 1.4
million visitors (one million visit the Abbey), and with increased
tourism resulting from WSfA improvements to the area, the figures
do not seem so unreasonable. There may also be an increase in
the numbers from the Abbey and Heritage visitor centres which
we would need to understand.
5. If so, what would be the impact of the
likely increase in the number of visitors (and potentially the
number of coach parties) on this part of Westminster—on
existing facilities and the transport infrastructure?
If there are more visitors to the site there
may be delays caused by taxi, coach, and car drop off and pick
up as Abingdon Street is to become one lane in each direction
with the implementation of phase 3 of the Corus vehicle resistant
barriers. This may be a problem with the increased number of users
at the Victoria Tower Gardens site.
We do not currently have figures for the number
of visitors arriving at the area by coach so it would be useful
to know what percentage of visitors you expect to arrive by coach.
Due to the reasons described previously a large increase in coaches
will cause delays if they use the current drop off point in Abingdon
Street. Alternative drop off points would have to be found but
new parking would be difficult to provide.
Currently most the visitors arrive by tube or
bus, and as tourists arrive at off peak hours these modes are
very well equipped to accommodate a general increase in visitor
numbers. Other changes to accommodate increased visitor numbers
such as widened footways, more pedestrian space and better signage
would be essential. These are all features of that would be part
of or in-line with WSfA improvements.
6. What additional facilities or infrastructure
changes might be needed to cope with the increase in numbers?
There are currently very limited facilities
for visitors so refreshment and toilet facilities may have to
be provided to for an increase in numbers.
The visitor centre would create high levels
of pedestrian activity and may cause congestion in some areas
where the footway is restrictive. The site's current most popular
attraction Westminster Abbey attracts around one million visits
a year and in the busiest period of the summer months has very
large queues taking up a large proportion of the area in front
of the Abbey and St Margaret's Church. With predicted visitor
numbers of 1.3 million it would be useful to have some thought
as to how the queuing visitors and increased pedestrian activity
would be accommodated.
In addition if separate visitor centres are
still envisaged then the pattern of future pedestrian movement
between them would need to be understood for the work of WSfA
to be as appropriate as possible. Victoria Tower Gardens would
be able to accommodate these queues more easily than Abingdon
Green though it would use up a lot of the recreation space. Wider
footways and improved crossings would also be needed all around
the site especially near Westminster Station and in front of the
Palace of Westminster.
26 June 2006
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