Waterloo Bridge parking could be banned

The issue has been highlighted by Green Party London Assembly member Darren Johnson who questioned the Mayor of London on the topic last autumn.

"Under the existing arrangements, cyclists avoiding parked vehicles are forced out into the path of heavy traffic and exposed to unnecessary danger whilst congestion is worsened as valuable road capacity is wasted on parking spaces," Darren Johnson told the SE1 website.

Responsibility for Waterloo Bridge is shared by two authorities – Lambeth Council controls the southern half and the City of Westminster looks after the northern half.

In the section under Lambeth control, double yellow lines are already painted on one side of the road but a traffic order could allow them to be introduced on the other side.

On the City of Westminster half of the bridge, the current traffic orders have waiting restrictions in place Monday to Saturday 7am-7pm which permits parking outside of these hours and all day on Sunday on both the upstream and downstream sides.

Mr Johnson wrote to Lambeth Council leader Cllr Lib Peck who replied: "Our officers have been in contact with Transport for London and through them discussions are now ongoing with the City of Westminster, who will have to introduce double yellow lines on their section to maintain continuity.

"I can confidently say that changes can be made by end of the financial year (or sooner – subject to resources)."

Westminster City Council told the SE1 website that it is currently considering the issue in the context of its own cycling strategy and the current consultation on the Mayor of London's plan for a 'Central London Grid' of bike routes.

Martin Low, Westminster's transport commissioner, said: "We will be developing proposals in consultation with Transport for London, the Greater London Authority and other London boroughs.

"One such measure under consideration is changing the single yellow line waiting restrictions to double yellow lines 'at any time' waiting restrictions on Waterloo Bridge, but this would be subject to the ongoing public consultation for this major project and statutory consultation on the traffic regulation orders."

Darren Johnson AM commented: "It is great news for cyclists and motorists alike that TfL and the two boroughs are taking the sensible step towards ending parking on this busy stretch of road.

"Congestion in the area will be eased as road capacity will be released to moving traffic rather than used for parking spaces. Cyclists will no longer find their routes blocked by stationary vehicles and won't be forced to swerve into busy streams of traffic to avoid these obstructions.

"A safe central London cycle network can only be achieved if we tackle anomalies like this and ensure consistency across the network. I shall continue to hold TfL and the boroughs to account and ensure they deliver on this issue."