Parking

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Bikers incensed with Westminster Council's bike parking charges are planning  a major assault on the capital this weekend (Sat 19th June 2010).

In almost millitary fashion thousands of bikers are expected to join a protest run that will encompass the M25. Starting at the well known Ace Cafe at noon, the bikers will ride out to the M25 and then encircle the orbital road on mass at a relatively "slow" speed of 40-50 mph. Despite riding within the law the shear numbers of bikers will cause major disruption to all roads entering and leaving the M25.

Riders say that by charging for motorcycle parking, Westminster Council are treating them like cars, despite a motorcycle's benefits as a mode of transport. Consequently riders are expected to "act" like cars on the demo by keeping a "very" safe distance between each rider on the demo. Because riders will be spaced out the procession of riders will probably be quite long.

The rally is a precursor to a High Court challenged arranged by the motorcycle protest group " No To The Bike Parking Tax" that goes to court on Thursday 24th Jume.

Warren Djanogly, Chairman of the Campaign, said, “This event will be truly spectacular, and will send a clear, unambiguous message to those in a position of power that bikers are a force to be reckoned with, and they will not roll over and be used as a cash-cow by councils across the country. We encourage any biker who cares about riders’ rights to join us on this fantastic day out!’

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Westminster Council claim that their motorcycle parking scheme is costing £430,000 to manage per year.

In this new age of austerity why do they continue with such a bizarre project that wastes local tax payers money. The money could could be spent keeping the City Guardians that are under threat as part of Westminster's planned cuts.

To add insult to injury the council also plans to spend further money on resources to "police" the motorcycle parking signs. Vandals, no doubt annoyed and frustrated at Westminster's exclusive Pay By Phone system, have vandalised countless number of signs in recent months. Repalcing the signs will cost the council time and effort, costs that will be bourne by local council tax payers.

Warren Djanogly, Chairman of the "No To Bike Parking Tax" group, said: "None of our lot are vandalising the signs. But the council are simply going to waste more money having a dedicated team to monitor the situation.

"If I was a resident I'd be absolutely furious."

Why the council does not drop this scheme no one knows ? The public don't want it, motorcyclist don't want it, residents don't want it. Worst of all it loses money that could be spent constructively elsewhere.

Are Westminster Council totally daft ?

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Bikers have accused Boris Johnson of "threatening" behaviour during a protest against parking charges.

Members of No To Bike Parking Tax blocked Trafalgar Square with their motorbikes last night, to demonstrate about a £1 daily parking charge introduced by Westminster Council.

The mayor of London, cycling by the square, is caught on camera by one of the protesters, saying: "Do you want to stay in the bus lanes or not?

"Then stop this protest. You're blocking traffic."

Mr Johnson was referring to an 18-month trial launched by Transport for London (TfL) in January 2009, which allows motorbikes to use bus lanes.

Warren Djanogly, chairman of the protest group, called the mayor's comments "threatening".

He added: "We have a democratic right to protest.

"It borders on blackmail, to stop people exercising their legal right to protest.

"To be threatened that if we don't stop our protest, something else will be taken away is outrageous.

"We're not going to listen to him. If anything, we're more determined than ever to keep protesting.

"Boris Johnson owes a lot of people a very large apology and we want a full explanation from him."

TfL makes recommendations to the mayor, who will make the final decision over whether the bus lane trial scheme will become permanent.

The trial is due to end on July 5.

A spokesman for the mayor of London said: "The mayor promised motorcyclists access to bus lanes on a trial basis but made it clear they would need to develop a mutual respect with others using the lanes for it to work well.

"He realises their desire to protest about parking charges in Westminster but was making the point that inconveniencing thousands of Londoners by jamming up a large part of central London only damages the respect that they need for the bus lanes trial to be successful."

Source: Westminster London Informer

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Westminster Council's parking department is being investigated by the European Union over alleged contractual irregularities.

The inquiry concerns Partnerships in Parking, a body set up by the council to allow local authorities to join forces to buy cheap parking services.

In February it was revealed that police are holding an inquiry into another contract awarded by the department.

Westminster Council has insisted it did not break any rules.

Partnerships in Parking (PiP) was set up by Westminster's head of parking Alastair Gilchrist and Councillor Danny Chalkley.

Transport for London and six local authorities in the city joined when it was first started up. They said they hoped to get a better deal for parking enforcement services from the private sector.

Canadian company Verrus was awarded the contract to provide pay-and-display services, pay-by-phone, parking tickets and debt collection to the councils.

But it is alleged that, when additional councils joined PiP, they broke European Union rules by automatically starting to use Verrus, rather than tendering it out.

The British government chose not to investigate the case. But the European Union launched its own enquiry - and ordered the UK government to account for its own decision not to.

The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) then asked Westminster Council's legal team to draft a reply to the EU.

Read more: Westminster Council's parking department faces EU probe