Viewpoint: An ancient place, where no cars go?

14/05/2020 | STEVE GOODING

Former Department for Transport (DfT) director, and current RAC Foundation director, Steve Gooding, reacts to the news that the City of London is looking to place further restrictions on vehicle use as people return to work in the Square Mile.

When I started work in London in 1982 it was possible for me to finish for the day, get the train home to the suburbs (SE9, since you ask), eat, hop in the car, drive back into central London to the Barbican, park on the street - for free - go to a concert and then drive home later.

Those days feel so long ago that they might almost be in black-and-white, or even sepia.

The City of London was always densely packed, but the buildings alongside its mediaeval streets have grown ever taller, accommodating more-and-more office workers. To the east, offices and apartments have replaced the once-thriving then abandoned docks. To the south, the riverside that was fronted by shabby, unoccupied warehousing in the 1980s now boasts yet more office and residential development, including the quirky home of London’s Mayor and the Greater London Authority hard by Tower Bridge, and the Shard piercing the sky next to the redeveloped London Bridge railway station.

As the number of people packing into the City has risen, so the realistic potential for driving to get around has fallen. The City had already flirted with severe restrictions alongside the Bank of England: and now looks set to go further.

Does it matter? The developers of office space can’t think so, because they have long since sought to earn greater returns per square foot of development from uses other than car parking, and found no difficulty in achieving attractive yields from willing tenants.

So, is this the moment, as some are saying, that we’ll see the car squeezed out of the City altogether? And not just the City of London but other parts of the capital too and also in city centres elsewhere?

There’s certainly a strong rationale for ensuring as far as possible that pedestrians are able to move around safely while endeavouring to self-distance this side of a coronavirus vaccine, and in a medieval street-scape that leaves precious little room for motor vehicles - even the vans whose delivery of essential supplies and multiple trades offices, shops and cafes keep the place functioning.

(In 2010 vans already accounted for 15% of all vehicle miles in London, a figure which is set to rise  to 22% by 2035 according to DfT forecasts.)

To a huge extent, the vast numbers of people pouring in and out of the City on weekdays are used to doing so by public transport, often making lengthy commuting journeys from far-flung suburbs.

And the question I am left with is whether the Government’s clear advice - still in place throughout the UK - to work from home if you can, allied to the fact that many office-based companies have found remote working to be a practical option over the last six weeks, will mean the tidal flow of people will not return quickly, or at all?

Put that together with the challenge Transport for London (TfL) and rail operators face in switching from crush loading to safe distancing and maybe the City is destined to stay a much quieter place, and not just for the absence of traffic.

The Royal Automobile Club Foundation for Motoring Limited is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Charity Number 1002705. Registered address: 89–91 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HS.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Traffic Management Technician - WMF2240e

£28,598 - £29,540
Westmorland and Furness Council is seeking a committed and technically capable individual to join our Traffic Management Team Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Technician-Road Closures

£35,422 - £38,730
The Network Planning division is seeking to appoint someone who is enthusiastic and a team player Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Technician - Road Closures (2 Posts)

£29,719 - £31,691
The Network Planning division is seeking to appoint someone who is enthusiastic, an excellent team player Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Structures Inspector

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for two Permanent Structure Inspectors to join our dynamic SBIM team Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey

Site Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Site Manager Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Principal Commercial Manager

£Competitive
The SBIM contract involves delivering inspection and maintenance programmes for National Highways Bristol
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Commercial Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Senior Commercial Manager Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have fantastic opportunities for a permanent Highways Maintenance Operatives. Northampton, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: Amey

Managing QS

£Competitive
In this role, you will support the Senior Commercial team in the end to end commercial process for the Area 12 contract. Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Highways Inspection Officer

£32,962 - £36,791 per annum
We have an exciting opportunity for a Highways Inspection Officer to join us! Windsor, Berkshire
Recruiter: The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Highways Technical Assistant

£29,064 - £31,537
Are you looking for a varied role in a dynamic and innovative team environment that can make a real difference to North Yorkshire’s highways? Leeming Bar, Northallerton
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Street Lighting Electrical Inspector

£34,434 - £38,220 per annum
Do you hold an ONC in electrical engineering or City & Guilds Electrician? Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior bridge Engineer - WMF2212e

£47,181 - £48,226
You will be the key responsible engineer for this area and will also provide technical advice and guidance to our team Cumbria / Various
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Civil Enforcement Officer - WMF2221e

£28,598 - £29,540
Are you seeking an active and challenging role, part of a friendly and welcoming team? Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Bridge Engineer - WMF2219e

£42,839 - £44,075
We are currently seeking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Bridge Engineer Kendal, Cumbria
Recruiter: Westmorland and Furness Council

Senior Public Transport Officer

£42,839 - £46,142
We are looking for an experienced public transport professional to become our Senior Public Transport Officer. Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy) (Fixed-Term)

£48,226-£51,356
We are looking for an experienced professional to join as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy) Northampton, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Mobile Street Scene Operative

£24,796 to £25,989 per annum
The Waste and Street Scene department requires enthusiastic and committed mobile street cleansing operative. Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recruiter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Technician - Highways Design (2 Posts)

Grade 10 £35,422 - 38,730 per annum
An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Professional Services Section Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW