Road outside Parliament could be closed to prevent terror attacks

Emilio Casalicchio

The road outside parliament could be paved over for pedestrians to prevent further terror attacks on the Palace of Westminster, it has emerged.



Ministers and parliamentary authorities were in talks with the Mayor of London about a feasibility study long before the latest suspected attack occured yesterday, according to reports.

A man was arrested after his car drove at speed into the barriers outside parliament and injured three cyclists.

The talks were also underway before attacker Khalid Masood last year drove over pedestrians on Westminster Bridge and stormed the parliamentary gates, stabbing a police officer to death.

Security minister Ben Wallace confirmed that the Government had committed to help fund a £5m feasibility study into closing Abingdon Street to traffic.

Concerns have been raised that the Palace could lose its World Heritage status because of the numerous bollards and steel barriers erected around it.