MT 129/67
Temporary off-street parking places: arrangements for special occasions; Christmas Traffic 1959. Pink Zone Scheme
| Date range | 1959-1960 |
| Location | National Archives (see all files stored here) |
| Catalogue | See entry |
| File base | Series MT, subseries MT 129 |
Context
In late 1959 the new Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples, decided he needed to act in order to prevent a repeat of the chronic traffic congestion in London on the shopping days leading up to Christmas 1958, and the terrible publicity it had received in the press. His Ministry accordingly devised a scheme whereby an area of Central London had its existing parking regulations rigorously enforced (this was something of a novelty at the time, when generally people expected to be able to pull up at the kerbside and abandon their car with impunity). In conjunction with that, vast temporary car parks were set up around the outside of the area and a wave of publicity told motorists what was expected of them. It was something of a success and was repeated in 1960, but has not been done since.
Contents of note
- Full details of press releases, leaflets, interviews and other publicity carried out by the MOT for the occasion
- Documentation of the investigations and negotiations carried out to set up temporary car parks
- Many, many letters of thanks from Ernest Marples to the organisations that had assisted with the scheme, sent in January 1960
People with camera copies
Chris Marshall has a partial copy.
