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Bikers’ protest banner in Trafalgar Square |
Bikers given easier ride on parking fees
Council offers free car park spaces as row goes on
Motorbike protesters fighting new parking charges are celebrating a victory after a council climbdown led to 900 spaces being made available free of charge.
The decision to make all motorbike parking spaces in council-controlled car parks free to two-wheelers comes after transport chiefs stuck by the unpopular daily parking charge.
Some opponents have questioned the logic of the policy that charges riders to park in the street and nothing to park in a car park.
The council has given some ground in the row that has been raging for six months, reducing the cost of an annual permit from £150 to £100 and the daily parking charge from £1.50 to £1. Until now, the charge, or “tax” as protesters see it, had been in place as part of a trial introduced in August last year.
It comes following a mass demonstration two weeks ago which saw thousands of leather-clad bikers roar through the streets of Westminster on a “go-slow” protest, angering businesses who accused them of holding the West End to ransom.
The council justifies the charges on the grounds that it represents “excellent value for money”. It claims the measure is needed to meet an increased demand for motorbike parking following the introduction of the congestion charge from which riders are already exempt.
Warren Djanogly, from the No To Bike Parking Tax group, said: “The campaign sees the initiatives announced by WCC as a desperate attempt by increasingly worried local councillors now very fearful of their political careers, to appease the mounting unrest against their blatant, and totally unjustified revenue-raising schemes.
“Providing free parking in the car parks is a hollow gesture since the occupancy so far of the spaces has been so low, that the campaign has evidence of cars parking in the places totally unchallenged.”
Opposition leaders in Westminster City Hall echo the bikers’ sentiments. They say the council’s changing position has made them look stupid.
Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg said: “How can it be fair or make financial sense to offer free motorbike parking in expensively run car parks and yet charge motorbike owners to park in the street?
“Simply put, Westminster’s offer of free parking in car parks is a totally empty and meaningless gesture aimed at trying to spin their way out of more bad publicity.”
Councillor Danny Chalkley, Westminster’s cabinet member for city management, said: “We have listened to the views of motorcyclists, residents and local businesses and responded by introducing a number of new initiatives to make life easier and more convenient for motorcyclists wishing to park in central London.
“From next month, motorcyclists will be able to access hundreds of free dedicated bays in our safe and secure car parks as well as being able to park in any dedicated bay across Westminster for just £1 a day, which we believe represents excellent value for money.
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