Westminster Parking Plan Illegal?

By · January 21, 2010 at 10:45 am · No comments · Latest News · Report an error ·

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Photo by jamesbooth

The words ‘Westminster Council’ and ‘parking row’ seem to go together like, well, ‘Westminster Council parking row’; these days. Just days after riling bikers, they’ve annoyed everyone else there was left to annoy by abolishing free evening parking.

Strenuously denying claims that they’re extending the charges to plug a £22m gap in their finances, the council claim that the move is to ease congestion, though an internal briefing suggests otherwise; stating that ‘Officers were asked to go away and look more closely at parking and community safety to find reductions or additional income. The areas of parking and community safety have been earmarked to contribute the majority of the £14m [the sum Westminster says it needs to find].’ Which certainly suggests to us that the council view parking charges as a revenue stream.

It’s a risky move, especially considering that neighbouring Camden tried to pull the same stunt a few years ago and were firmly ruled against in the High Court. It’s also not calculated to endear Westminster with its neighbouring boroughs as motorists spread out in search of free parking. And it’s not just visitors that will be affected – evening workers in the area will also be out of pocket.

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  • http://undefined Joe Dunckley

    “It’s also not calculated to endear Westminster with its neighbouring boroughs as motorists spread out in search of free parking.”

    Why should this problem be considered Westminster’s fault? Parking is a problem caused by the idiots who think that a car is an appropriate way to get in to central London. Councils have the tough job of managing all the problems caused by these idiots.

    “And it’s not just visitors that will be affected – evening workers in the area will also be out of pocket.”

    Evening workers who think that a car is an appropriate way to get in to central London will be out of pocket.

  • http://www.oxocubeeditorial.com/ Beth Torr

    Or perhaps evening workers whose shifts finish once the tube has stopped running?

    A car certainly isn’t the best way to get into central London, but that doesn’t automatically mean that anyone who does it is an ‘idiot’. It’s still as valid a form of transport as any other.

  • http://undefined spannermonkey

    As a supporter of the “NO TO BIKE PARKING TAX” protest group which has been fighting against the introduction of a motorcycle parking TAX in WCC for over 12months.

    A policy thought up and imposed by WCC parking department, having stuck two finger up to the protests of over 7500 motorcycle and scooter riding commuters. A policy that is against their own Tory party transport policy and every other well read party and transport groups recommendations.That has resulted in WCC being investigated by, the EU,Office of Fair Trading, The district auditor, & pending court case.

    I had to have a little chuckle to my self, about the rest of the London WAKING UP TO WESTMINSTER CC CASH GRAB intentions.

    Its against the law to use the road traffic act to generate a profit, which is the intention of their move, to push the time that they can give parking ticket for until midnight.

    But do not fear they have said to us “NTBPT” that our tax (bike parking tax) is revenue neutral so they will not be making a profit (as that would be against the law).

    So if they are not going to make extra money from increasing the charging time until midnight, why do it?

    Well the council might not declare a profit, you can bet THE COMPANY THAT RUNS THE PHONE SECTION OF THE BUSINESS “VERRUS” CORPORATION, WILL BE.

    ASK WCC HOW MANY PENCE IN THE POUND YOU PAY IN A PARKING FEE/TICKET GOES TO THEM?
    I BET YOU DO NOT LIKE THE ANSWER.

    SAY NO TO WESTMINSTER CASH GRAB AND REMIND THEM WHO THEY WORK FOR.

  • http://undefined Bruce

    Well, they are back in court today. Let’s hope this is another loss that WCC can chalk up. Bringing a car into central London is now the preserve of the very rich and goverment officials, like those who run WCC’s parking, who get their parking paid for by us, the idiot taxpayer.

    Whilst, “idiot car drivers” are paying through the nose, those sensible enough to use public transport face massive fare rises and bikers now pay to park. Hobson’s choice really. Where does it stop? It looks like the rest of us are being taken for idiots too. At least the bikers are doing something about it.

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