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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 8 August 2008

Chains that bind the hapless city motorcyclist

• I TOTALLY agree with Gerry Townsend (It would pay to buy a car and get rid of the motorbike, August 1).
I live in Westminster and own a car and a bike.
Recently I was astonished to discover that although it costs me £115 to park my car, it will now cost me £150 to park my bike in Westminster. How can this be, since my bike takes up much less space along with a much lower impact to the environment?
This makes a mockery of any claims Westminster City Council put forward when promoting their environmental credentials.
Westminster City Council have tried to justify the fees claiming it’s for bike bay security and extra bays.
However, when you actually can find a bike bay (less than 10 per cent) with these new security bars installed, you will find them practically useless to anybody who is not equipped with the longest of chains.
How much money was wasted on consultants to find the most impractical security bars in the UK?
The new Westminster secure bike bays do not bear comparison to the excellent security that Camden Council manage to provide for free.
Nathan Brook
Hallam Street, W1

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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