West End News: Principle | motorbike policy | Golden Square

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 19 December 2008

Look at the principle and detail of motorbike policy

• ON Sunday I attended a protest rally in Golden
Square organised by “notobikeparkingfees” and spoke to many angry local residents/motorbike owners who cannot understand the need for or purpose of Westminster’s new motorbike parking charges.
I have also received a number of very well-argued letters from local residents.
Having now met bikers from all over Westminster I am in no doubt that there is considerable opposition to the charges from local residents and there is a clear need for the city council to review the situation.
Because of this new parking tax there are now many empty bike-parking bays all over Westminster and there has been a subsequent increase in bike parking on private/council property which does not attract a charge.
Also, bikers tell me that they see no improvement in bike parking facilities or security measures which were supposed to be the reason for introducing the charges.
There has also been an increase in bikes parking in car bays (which reduces the availability of car parking) and an increase in the number of resident bikers using their cars to get around the West End because it is cheaper to do so!
Fundamentally, the motorbike owners object to a charge which will inevitably make using a bike less attractive and therefore less likely to contribute to the overall goal of reducing car traffic, pollution and congestion in central London.
There should now be a thorough review of the principle and detail of the charging policy, including how the council’s policies fit in with the new Mayor of London’s approach to encouraging motorbike use.
Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg
Leader of the Labour Group
Westminster City Council

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.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: