FAQ
What do I do in an emergency?
Emergency services requiring vehicular access to Villiers Street should use the intercom at the bollard line at the junction with Embankment Place to gain access to the road.
Similarly, for minor medical emergencies, the attending vehicle’s driver should use the intercom to gain access to the road.
What should I do if there is an event, a need for urgent access (e.g. burst pipes or failed electrics), or need for egress where Strand is closed?
Utility companies and engineers requiring urgent vehicular access to Villiers Street should use the intercom at the bollard line at the junction with Embankment Place to gain access to the road. The security company, ASM, uses an ANPR camera and an overview camera to verify someone’s identity. This provision can be reviewed by ASM on a case-by-case basis. In circumstances where urgent access is required on a regular basis, businesses or residents can apply to the City Council for PIN code access to be granted for emergency purposes.
Planned road closures are communicated to residents in advance so that they can make alternative arrangements. For planned public events, the City Council, working in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police, will use temporary signs, event marshals and / or support from uniformed police to direct traffic as required.
Unplanned / short-notice road closures such as for a burst water main or for protests, etc., are implemented by the City Council or the Metropolitan Police, as appropriate, and, therefore, residents would need to follow temporary traffic signs or police directions. Movement out of the area for exceptional reasons during such unplanned closures (such as by proceeding against the one-way working in Villiers Street) would only be permitted if indicated by temporary signs or at police discretion to ensure the safety of all highway users.
What should I do if I require building works / repairs?
Anyone requiring vehicular access to Villiers Street for building renovation / construction / demolition, scaffolding or crane operations should follow the usual process of seeking approval via the City Council’s Highways Licensing Team. Upon approval, the team will provide the applicant with a PIN code to access the road: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/roads-and-highways/temporary-structure-crane-and-road-closure-licences.
What should I do about property maintenance?
When Villiers Street is open, anyone requiring vehicular access to Villiers Street for internal building works or other planned / unplanned contractor access can enter the road to load / unload their vehicle. Please note that loading / unloading activities are restricted to 20 minutes between 11.00am and 6.30pm in all roads in Westminster that are subject to waiting restrictions and do not have otherwise signed loading restrictions. There is no time limit outside of these hours provided the activity is ongoing and evident to a traffic marshal observing the vehicle. Once loaded / unloaded, the vehicle should leave the area or be moved to an appropriate parking place outside of the Pedestrian Zone while the works take place, as appropriate.
Where it is necessary for a vehicle to load / unload for an extended period and in doing so would contravene the Westminster-wide general restrictions on loading, it will be necessary to seek a yellow line dispensation. Similarly, where it is necessary for a vehicle to park in Villiers Street it will also be necessary to seek a yellow line dispensation.
When Villiers Street is closed, anyone requiring vehicular access to Villiers Street for the above purposes should apply for a parking dispensation. Upon approval, the applicant will be provided with a PIN code. The parking dispensation would override any time limits on waiting or loading while it remains valid.
What should I do if I have exceptional large, heavy, fragile or valuable deliveries or equipment?
When Villiers Street is open, anyone requiring vehicular access to Villiers Street for deliveries can enter the road to load / unload their vehicle. Please note that loading / unloading activities are restricted to 20 minutes between 11.00am and 6.30pm in all roads in Westminster that are subject to waiting restrictions and do not have otherwise signed loading restrictions. There is no time limit outside of these hours provided the activity is ongoing and evident to a traffic marshal observing the vehicle. Once loaded / unloaded, the vehicle should leave the area.
Where it is necessary for a vehicle to load / unload for an extended period and in doing so would contravene the Westminster-wide general restrictions on loading, it will be necessary to seek a yellow line dispensation.
When Villiers Street is closed, anyone requiring vehicular access to Villiers Street for the above purposes should apply for a parking dispensation. Upon approval, the resident or applicant will be provided with a PIN code. The parking dispensation would override any time limits on waiting or loading while it remains valid.
If a vehicle is being used for the purpose of furniture removal or installation as part of moving house or office, the normal restrictions on waiting and loading do not apply. However, dispensation would still be required during the times when Villiers Street is closed.
What are the disabled access options?
The City Council has reviewed disabled access to Villiers Street during the times at which it would be closed as part of its Equality Impact Assessment and considers that the only exceptions for general disabled access would be for visitors to the Charing Cross Theatre which has been identified as being too far from other appropriate parking. The theatre will manage access for any ticket holders with limited mobility.
Residents of Villiers Street who are disabled or have mobility issues can request the PIN code for the barriers from the City Council. Residents can also apply for the PIN code if they have visitors requiring disabled access.
Any other specific disabled access needs would be reviewed on a case-by-case basis at the time a resident or business approaches the City Council with their request. The City Council would review the details of the request and then decide the most appropriate way to provide access, i.e. via PIN code, through an application for dispensation, or via the intercom at the barrier at the south-eastern end of Villiers Street.
Will waste collection be affected?
The City Council’s waste collection contractors will have their vehicles pre-registered so that they can access Villiers Street during the times at which it would be closed via ANPR and continue to collect refuse as normal.
What will happen when there are street works / lighting works / utilities works?
For planned works, contractors should apply for a permit in the normal manner and a PIN code will be provided.
In the event of utilities or highways works, it would normally be the case that traffic management plans are provided to the City Council’s Streetworks permit team who then liaise with the utility companies to ensure access is maintained as much as possible. the City Council would normally seek to avoid a complete route closure. Historically, if any utility works required a road closure at either end of the route from Northumberland Avenue to Strand via Villiers Street, the remaining section(s) were made two-way temporarily to provide access. In the event of works, consideration would also be given (out of necessity) to keep the road open at all times to allow access / egress for residents, businesses and works crew.
What if I need night-time access for safety reasons?
The PIN code for the Villiers Street barrier can be provided to residents that would feel safer if they were dropped off in Villiers Street at night, upon request.
What is a Vehicle As a Weapon (VAW) attack?
Further information on VAW attacks can be found at https://www.protectuk.police.uk/threat-risk/threat-analysis/terrorist-use-vehicle-weapon-vaw. |
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