Parking tax council’s ‘dirty tricks’

A council that scrapped free motorcycle parking is using ‘dirty tricks’ to derail opposition to the move.

Westminster City Council is accused of giving firms a standard letter demanding a protest ride is cancelled in the hope they will fill in the blanks with their names.

Since August the council has charged riders £1.50 a day to use bike parking bays which are traditionally free. Campaigners fear free motorcycle parking will be lost elsewhere unless the charge is scrapped.

They became suspicious when they received identical letters from five firms urging them not to go ahead with a demonstration planned for Monday. 

Now Labour councillors are calling for an inquiry into the council’s tactics. Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg has written to council Chief Executive Mike More demanding to know the names of those involved and the cost of the scheme.

He writes: ‘I have to say that I am very surprised by this covert “dirty tricks” Council campaign’.

In the standard letter Westminster City Council appears to have changed the name of the protest group from ‘No To The Bike Parking Tax’ to ‘No To Bike Parking Fees’.

The letter says: ‘I have noted with concern plans by the group “No To Bike Parking Fees” to cause “Monday Mayhem” on Monday 11th May, and would like to register publicly our opposition to this disruptive and disproportionate course of action.

‘I am writing in my capacity as [insert job title] of the [insert company name] who clearly have a significant interest in the effective operation of loading and unloading activity in London…

‘I urge you to reconsider this ill-considered and aggressive action as it can only damage commerce in the West End and cause harm to businesses that are already facing very difficult times.’

Firms to so far sign include DHL (GB) and the Freight Transport Association.

Warren Djanogly, chairman of No To The Bike Parking Tax, said Monday’s protest would go ahead and accused the council of damaging business “by talking away £3 million since last August that could have gone in retailers tills”.
Westminster City Council declined to comment.

In February the council failed to disclose its full income from scrapping free bike parking. Conservative Cllr Danny Chalkley revealed £886,000 from the charge itself without mentioning another £436,000 from fines.

The council has refused to respond to MCN’s questions since we asked why the full income was not disclosed. An automatic reply to our latest email said it had been ‘deleted without being read’ by a press officer.   

Find details on the next protest ride at: www.notobikeparkingfees.com