Signs vandalised in parking row
Added on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor | 4 Comments
Signs vandalised in parking row
Motorcyclists in London are risking charges for criminal damage in the latest fight back against bike parking charges enforced by Westminster City Council.
Claims posted on the official No to the Bike Parking Tax website have claimed that penalty charge notices (PCNs) issued to motorcycles cannot legally be enforced where signs advising of payment methods are either missing or where any part of the signage is illegible, a standpoint that has reportedly been confirmed by Westminster City Council’s parking enforcement department.
That revelation has allegedly led to opposers of the charge either defacing or removing signs in an attempt to dodge the charge, potentially risking a charge of criminal damage in the process.
Westminster City Council introduced controversial charges for motorcycle parking in August 2008, charging bikers £1.50 per day on a “pay by phone” basis or £150 for an annual parking pass. Other London boroughs, including Camden, City of London, Islington and Kensington and Chelsea are thought to be exploring the viability of similar charges.
Critics of the scheme say that the councils fail to recognise the benefits that motorcycles have in reducing congestion and that the charges are discouraging commuters from considering motorcycles in place of cars.
Westminster City Council is also the subject of an EC investigation relating to the charge and alleged breaches into the awarding of the private contract to administer the charge.
A statement on the No to the Bike Parking Tax website added: “This campaign does not in any way condone unlawful behaviour.”
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4 Comments
Josef
January 6th, 2010For more information about the rules and an official letter from Westminster City Council stating that the bays if “obliterated” are free, go to this link: http://bit.ly/6pqsFA
And if you want to read more about the it check out Nutsville which tracks all the seedy goings on at Westminster Council..
Also one thing that hasn’t been mentioned here on this site is the 3 investigations being launched against Westminster City Council due to the campaigning by the London motorcyclists, the investigations are:
1. The EU Commissioners; who ensure that competition & codes of procurement are maintained, following a complaint surrounding the awarding of the main contract to Verrus UK Ltd. Official case number: SG-CDC-2008A-7695.
2. The Department of Communities & Local Government; to whom we have demanded a full Public Inquiry since they funded Alastair’s pet Partnerships-In-Parking, who we have exposed as being the vehicle by which he wanted to confer all similar Council contracts to Verrus UK Ltd.
3. Office of Fair Trading; who are also investigating an official complaint lodged by us based on the findings listed in our demand for a Public Inquiry. Official case number: EPIC/ENQ/E/75795.
Thierry Lafronde
January 6th, 2010Taxing bikes to park is one of the worst anti biking piece of “legislation” ever.
Bikers and scooter users in London have been staging huge demonstrations in protest against the tax and thousands have signed petitions, sent in objections etc, over the past 17 months, only to be ignored by tory run Westminster city council. Westminster council is acused of fraud, lies and playing dirty tricks. This council has never seen such big protests and anger before. Is it surprising that patience is running out ? It is a great pitty that motorcyclists are having to risk charges of criminal damage to get heard and noticed !
Ogri Grindstaff
January 7th, 2010What is the official view of Carole Nash Ltd. on the parking charges ?
There are two motorcycle insurance companies actively supporting the campaign to scrap the parking charges.
My motorcycles are insured by Carole Nash, I would like to see them help the campaign, an official statement of support is all that is required. My renewal is due in March; knowing Carole Nash’s position will help me decide who I choose as my insurer & who I reccommend as an insurer to the 7000 members of NTBPT.
Carole Nash Editor
January 7th, 2010Carole Nash has openly backed campaigns for free motorcycle parking facilities in major cities and have, alongside industry bodies such as the MCI, supported official campaigns on this issue: http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-news/carole-nash-back-parking-campaign.htm
Naturally, through our support of campaigns such as Get On!, National Ride to Work Day and work with various shows and events in the UK and Ireland, we’re extremely supportive of schemes which aim to encourage motorcycle usage – free parking being one of many.