Westminster City Council has announced that it will give motorists free parking next weekend in a bid to beat the post-Olympic slump.
There's actually free parking this weekend too but we didn't find out about it in time to alert our motoring readers. The unusually altruistic move from a council well known for its tight grip on the pockets of drivers and the eagle eye of its parking wardens is, according to the council's website, because it wants us to enjoy the weeks between the Olympics and Paralympics.
Before you all jump into your jalopies and joyfully head off the Westminster to sample the free parking extravaganza, note that the temporary exemptions are for paid-for bays and on single yellow lines only. Normal restrictions will apply to double yellow lines and residents’ bays.
Westminster has recently also announced a new parking sensor trial. Called Parkopedia, the scheme uses sensors to relay up-to-date information about vacant spaces which people can look at on their iPhones, iPads and Blackberrys. The council say it will reduce congestion and save motorists having to endlessly trawl the streets searching for somewhere to park. Savile Row, Jermyn Street, Sackville Street, Burlington Gardens and St Johns Wood High Street are all involved and feedback from the pilot will be used to decide if the scheme could be rolled out across the city.
See Westminster City Council's website for further details.
Photo by Malcolm Edwards in the Londonist Flickr pool.
