Crossroads Rider on Facebook

Popular topics

Alastair Gilchrist Alistair Gilchrist Audit Commission bike parking tax BIke park tax BMF Boris Johnson cash cow climategate Colin Barrow Conservative CRU Danny Chalkley enforcement EU Commission Freedom of Information global warming Labour Lib Dem London LOndon Mayor MAG Magna Carta motorbike Motorbike parking tax Motorcycle motorcycling NTBPT PCN Powered Two Wheelers PTW RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE science scooter Simon Cowell speed camera Tory council trial parking tax UE Commission UK government Verrus WCC Westminster Westminster City Council X Factor

Westminster begins fightback against motorbike parking tax protesters by replacing defaced signs

Posted: 8th January 2010 | 2 Comments »

signe replace 2 crop1 193x300 Westminster begins fightback against motorbike parking tax protesters by replacing defaced signssign replace 34 160x300 Westminster begins fightback against motorbike parking tax protesters by replacing defaced signsLast night, Crossroads Rider broke the news that Westminster council will press ahead with trying to make their controversial motorcycle parking tax a permanent feature in the centre of London. But I can now report that the council have begun their fightback against protesters by replacing defaced signs. As you can see from the pictures, a team of contractors has already been dispatched to take down signs that are defaced as this invalidates the council’s rights to enforce their new bike parking charge scheme. The council’s contractor Verrus can only make money for themselves and the council from the new scheme if motorbike and scooter riders pay-by-phone each day to park anywhere on public roads in the City of Westminster. It is said however that revenues dropped significantly  after the council admitted that their parking enforcement contractors are not entitled to issue Penalty Charge Notices PCNs in locations where parts of the scheme’s signs had become illegible.

new sign up3 Westminster begins fightback against motorbike parking tax protesters by replacing defaced signs

Now, of course, I cannot and will not condone acts of protest that could be construed as vandalism. But I am not convinced that this latest move by the council will prove to be decisive in drawing this row over new parking fees to a sustainable conclusion.

Tags: Alastair Gilchrist, Danny Chalkley, defaced signs, enforcement, motorbike, Motorbike parking tax, pay-by-phone, scooter, Verrus, Westminster, Westminster City Council

Westminster decide to make bike parking tax scheme permanent – opponents say “Let battle commence!”

Posted: 7th January 2010 | 7 Comments »

DC smile pic cropped Westminster decide to make bike parking tax scheme permanent – opponents say Let battle commence!Cabinet member for transport Cllr Danny Chalkley (right) has just told me by email that he has made his decision regarding the trial of a controversial new motorbike parking tax in Westminster. And the decision is to uphold his officer’s recommendations led by Alastair Gilchrist (left) to make the scheme permanent – so he has authorised the officers to Gilchrist 1 copy2 Westminster decide to make bike parking tax scheme permanent – opponents say Let battle commence!draw up  traffic orders for a permanent scheme . However, I have already had heard opponents of the scheme suggesting that this is far from the end of this saga. Chris Hodder of the BMF says. “This is further proof that democracy is failing in Westminster as thousands of people have objected to this ill-conceive and unnecessary scheme, but Westminster City Council have ridden roughshod over them.” He says then adds a warning. “But I don’t see any signs that opposition and protest is about to stop anytime soon”.

And now I have just had the chairman of the No To Bike Parking Tax opposition group, Warren Djanogly call to say that in their view this is a long way from being the end of their campaign against the scheme that has been running for over a year already. His message is simple but clear. “Let battle commence” he says. All I’ll say for now is that I am disappointed by this decision but I am not surprised – and I am also sure that this is not the end but the start of a new chapter in this story…

pixel Westminster decide to make bike parking tax scheme permanent – opponents say Let battle commence!
Tags: Alastair Gilchrist, Danny Chalkley, Motorbike parking tax, Westminster City Council