Drop your parking changes before it's too late, Boris tells Westminster

The Mayor hit out at the council's plans to impose a "tax on nightlife" which will raise millions of pounds and said: "It needs to be reviewed."

The council is proposing to abolish free parking on single yellow lines and parking bays between 6.30pm and midnight Monday to Saturday, and between 1pm and 6pm on Sundays. Parking will cost up to £4.80 per hour.

Mr Johnson today criticised the plans and told the Standard that he "warned" the council that the charges were a bad idea "months and months ago".

In a meeting at City Hall with council leader Colin Barrow last night the Mayor raised the issue and said he was given "reassurance...that this will be reviewed". He said today: "We have been talking to them over the past few months and are making this point as forcefully as we can."

But despite growing public anger Mr Barrow today remained defiant and insisted that he will go ahead with the scheme and the charges will only be reviewed after 18 months.

The council is being taken to the High Court following a rebellion led by top chefs, actors and night-time workers. In the biggest legal challenge of its kind, they will seek a judicial review of Westminster's plans.

Mr Johnson said: "It's something that I actually raised with Westminster months and months ago when they were planning this. I am worried about the threat to the night economy, the threat to local businesses and also to worship. The reassurance I've had is that this will be reviewed. They will take a view on all the aspects of it and that can only be a good thing. I think it's not a good idea. That's my view. I don't own every street and every pavement in London, but in this situation I support the people who are against it.

"I warned them strongly about the move but it came in."

Mr Barrow today ignored the Mayor's intervention and said: "This is and always was an experimental scheme. Everything will be up for review towards the end of the 18 months and not before.

"Boris's position is he is concerned about it as a number of people are - about their businesses, how they are going to get home - but if we thought it would have a major impact on businesses we would worry more. We have come to the conclusion it is better for businesses to reduce congestion." At an event to celebrate the gyratory around Piccadilly Circus becoming two-way Mr Johnson added: "I was concerned from day one months ago when this was first mooted and spoke to Colin then because of the potential damage to the night-time economy. It is pretty clear people are not happy."

Paul Dimoldenberg, Labour leader on Westminster council, criticised Mr Barrow and called on him to abandon his proposal. He said: "Every day somebody new comes out against this ridiculous parking charge. The fact that the Mayor has come out is extremely significant.

"The West End should not have to endure 18 months of this experiment in order to be proved wrong. Colin Barrow should perform a U-turn before he is responsible for damaging the West End economy."

Your say: We can't afford to pay

Khiley Williams, 24, receptionist, dancer and actor, lives in Sydenham: "I work at Quo Vadis restaurant in Soho and I rely on being able to park on the single yellow lines in the evenings. It will eat up a huge chunk of my money if I have to pay more than £4 an hour just so I can get home safely.

"I often finish at 2am and it would cost me about £30 for a taxi. I can't afford that. This is ridiculous and will affect a lot of people I know."

Paul Robinson, 42, manager of Bar Italia in Soho, lives in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire: "I sometimes don't finish until 4.30am or 5am and then it takes an hour and a half to drive home. With these new charges, plus petrol and congestion charge, I'm looking
at paying £50 a day on transport just to come to
work. I have three kids - I just can't afford that on my wage."

Amy Conroy, 26, welcome desk manager at W London hotel in Wardour Street, lives in Acton: "I don't want any of my staff having to walk to get their car in the early hours of the morning. It's not safe.

"The thought of getting public transport at that time of night is bad enough - just walking five minutes to catch the bus is a worrying situation if you are on your own. It's also bad for customers. What's the point of having roads if you can't use them?"