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Parking charges victory as Westminster nightlife tax is abandoned
Jonathan Prynn, Mira Bar-Hillel and Joe Murphy15 Dec 2011
Westminster's plans for evening and Sunday parking charges have been scrapped until after the Olympics.
The victory for campaigners against the "tax on nightlife" came after a High Court judge ordered the council to put the plans on hold, saying there was a risk they would "damage businesses and churches".
The ruling was hailed as "brilliant news for everyone who loves the West End" and means that the planned start of the charges on January 9 will be delayed for at least nine months.
Businesses from high street giants to corner shops, government ministers, celebrities and religious groups had united in the battle over the abolition of free parking.
Westminster council leader and hedge fund millionaire Colin Barrow today told the Standard: "We don't know what the legal timetable will be, so we came to the conclusion that it would be wise to defer it until after the Olympics."
The move came after:
Westminster's ruling cabinet was forced into an emergency late-night meeting following the judge's decision to allow a judicial review of the charges.
It emerged that Downing Street leaned on council leaders to abandon the charges, with No 10 sources saying "we are all very passionate about it".
Boris Johnson hailed the postponement as "wise and brave" and the "right decision for Londoners".
Council leader Mr Barrow acknowledged the role played by the Standard, adding "we will continue to listen".
The decision to postpone the charges of up to £4.80 an hour was made after Mr Justice Collins ruled that the new regime will "not come into effect until this claim is determined". Mr Barrow said the "slightly surprising" ruling meant that the start date would have to be delayed for several months and ran the risk of clashing with the Queen's diamond jubilee and next summer's Olympics.
He said: "We have a lot to do to get ready for the Olympics and the
diamond jubilee and to be implementing the scheme in the middle of all that could cause confusion."
Giving his permission for a full judicial review of the charges, the judge said "there is a real risk of substantial damage to businesses and churches if it goes ahead". The Mayor hailed Westminster's move, adding: "I applaud (Colin Barrow's) wisdom and bravery in making the right decision for Londoners at a tough time for the economy. TfL will now be working with Westminster on measures to combat congestion."
Mr Johnson had asked TfL to explore whether he would be able to take control of key strategic roads in the borough in a bid to prevent the town hall implementing the charges.
Mr Barrow said that the council still plans to introduce the charges, despite warnings from one study that they could cost the West End £800 million a year and threatened 5,000 jobs.
He said: "We still think that congestion is a real problem and that this is the best way to solve it. We are not retreating from the principle, it is all to do with the practicality."
But he added that the council was "listening". He said: "We are not deaf and we listen to what people are saying in London. We listened before, we listened during and we will continue to listen after the Evening Standard's involvement in this issue."
But there were hopes that today's postponement will be the prelude to the charges being abandoned permanently. West End councillor Glenys Roberts, the only Tory member to come out fully against the charges, said: "This is brilliant news for everyone who loves the West End. Now we have the opportunity to think again and I hope it will go away for ever."
Westminster's decision came after the judge decided that there were grounds for a judicial review of the way the council reached its decision. Mr Justice Collins ruled that the challenge brought by Mayfair estate agent Peter Wetherell, backed by restaurateur Richard Caring, raised some important concerns that needed to be considered at a full hearing.
He also rejected Westminster's demand that the new charges should be introduced on January 9. The council's legal advisers decided that the delay could drag on much longer than that leading to a potentially disastrous clash with the diamond jubilee and Games.
Reader views (44)
Mr Barrow needs to consider the workers that keep London running overnight.
I have a cleanng business and employee 45 people some night workers in London around Marylebone, Portland Place and Oxford Street area - these streets are not congested re parking I know been running my business 20 years. I have a mind to film London streets at night to show the truth of the matter.
Also as a business owner having to buy new vans re LEZ deal. This parking charge new fee is so not on! It is for money!
LEZ sorts a lot of pollution issues - see how many new vans are on the road in London at the 3rd January 2012.
Also London is London a busy city and Mr Barrow should be grateful for the income Westminster gets as a result of that.
Has Mr Barrow considered security gaurds, nurses and all those who have no option to work nights!
What about parking spaces - not enough Mr Barrow.
THINK UP LONDON! Its Ours we pay our dues daily!!!!!
Lets fight this thoughfulness and carelesness!
The goverment are supposed to work with us not against us!
- Penelope Ryder, Central London, 17/12/2011 03:36
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GOOD now lets hope the council gets rid of the rickshaws, they jam up our streets, and should not be allowed to occupy road space. Secondly residents cars, why do they need a car in central London ? charge them extra they can afford it, there council tax is a third of everyone else. There you go Cllr Barrow congestion reduced and you can get a bit more money.
- Mr S.Port, London, 16/12/2011 08:49
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Motorcycles pay no congestion charge and can use bus lanes. Many speed in central London streets. The least they can do is to pay a modest fee to park on the road during the day.
- Peter, London, 16/12/2011 06:50
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i think this is a great decision. what does the westminster council have for brains? straw? how could they have thought this tax was a good idea? and who put this idea into their heads?
- Denise, Louisville, USA, 16/12/2011 04:13
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one of the greatest decisions of this decade..it would have been a total disaster had this law been made, finally someone saw the light..dinner in town £150, parking for 4 hours £20, not receiving a £120 parking ticket, priceless...well done muppets
- big ld, nw8, 16/12/2011 03:07
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"So don't you pro-pollution campaigners celebrate too hard just yet....."
- S. K. Midwinter, Brockley, 15/12/2011 21:31
Hahaha! "Pro-pollution"? What a joke! How about pro-freedom! Anti-corruption! Anti-persecution! Pro common sense! Pro-business! Pro-workers! Pro-safety!
- Cass, Finsbury, 15/12/2011 23:21
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I suppose this implies that Lee Rowley will be slapping that free borough wide parking permit back on his windscreen then....it's been collecting dust no doubt in the same way his future in politics will be doing shortly (just my opinion!)
- Dave, Wandsworth, 15/12/2011 22:00
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I've no sympathy for all you rich buggers who either live in or flock to London at night.
Move to the Downham estate , where the living is easy and you can drink in the Downham Tavern every night.
- Lancelot, The Downham Estate, 15/12/2011 21:43
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Ah judicial review. Basically a rich man's tool for bypassing the decisions of our democratically elected representatives.
All that will happen now is there'll be a long legal battle costing tens of thousands in taxpayers money while laywers debate whether Westminster used the right type of paper clips in their consultation, or some other technicality. Evern if the decision is quashed there is nothing to stop Westminster making the same decision only using the right type of paperclips or whatever.
So don't you pro-pollution campaigners celebrate too hard just yet.....
- S. K. Midwinter, Brockley, 15/12/2011 21:31
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Message to Barrow and Rowley. GO and GO NOW
- hunter, London, 15/12/2011 20:05
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The Mayor hailed Westminster's move, adding: "I applaud (Colin Barrow's) wisdom and bravery in making the right decision for Londoners at a tough time for the economy.
Really? Cllr Barrow is a complete and utter lactating organ. If he actually possessed any wisdom in his tiny little mind he would have recognised that this idea was a bad one. Bravery? Well he will be brave if he dares to stand for elected office again and perhaps Cons HQ will quickly kick him in his girlie bits and ship him off to Primark to man the tills like the utter numbnuts.
- Cameron Pell, London, 15/12/2011 19:46
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"Congestion is a real problem in Westminster in the evenings. Round where I live the evening traffic is the worst, bumper to bumper traffic with fumes constantly permeating flats like mine. Not sure why we put up with it."
- Dan, London, 15/12/2011 17:37
First of all, what do you expect? It's central London! Of course it's going to be busy. Don't like it? Move.
But, secondly, the congestion is also down to the unlicensed rickshaws, the masses of taxis (both licensed and unlicensed), the buses, the thousands of drunken jaywalking pedestrians and not forgetting the residents' cars, that clog up the West End streets at night.
Putting the congestion in the West End down to a minority of private motorists who drive into London, park, and then leave hours later, is nonsense.
- Gary, Balham, 15/12/2011 19:19
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Then why live there, Dan? Why not move to Sutton, where I live? Oh, I forgot - you'll pay 40% more in Council tax, there's no tube...
- liz, London, 15/12/2011 19:07
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Why in a supposed democracy, does it take a judge to stop a council doing something that nobody but the council and a few eco-fanatics want?
- Dave, London, 15/12/2011 18:40
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Dan.
Not sure why you remain there then.
- joe jones, Leicester UK, 15/12/2011 18:13
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Jonathan SW1, the majority of people in Westminster don't want these charges, are you a mate of Lee Rowley's or something? Get your facts straight, Don't make me laugh! And for the record I have a low emission car, but if I can't drive in my own City I will get something with a much bigger engine to get to all those out of town places like Bicester Village....motorists have had enough. And don't get me started on Barrow, if I wanted policy like this I'd vote for the Green Party. Time to place all parking revenue in to Central Government coffers, it's clearly too much of a temptation for small time local Councils....
- Peter, London, 15/12/2011 17:37
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Congestion is a real problem in Westminster in the evenings. I can never understand why the congestion charge isn't 24hr. Round where I live the evening traffic is the worst, bumper to bumper traffic with fumes constantly permeating flats like mine. Not sure why we put up with it.
- Dan, London, 15/12/2011 17:37
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No, it is not bad news for those who live in central London - you are already benefiting hugely from incredibly low Council Tax (30% less than in many outer London boroughs)and from the myriad of transport choices you have, including the tube.
Those of us who subsidize you have no tube, trains to London only twice an hour, and a Sunday journey which would take 2 hours by bus/train. We really do not see why we should not be able to drive to the city in which we live, and park there free on a Sunday. We certainly spend enough!
- liz, London, 15/12/2011 17:34
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The judge should be deeply ashamed of himself. At a time when the air pollution is so severe in the centre of London that childrens' lung development is being damaged, he prioritises the wants of churchgoers who could easily go to a local church instead of driving into central London. It is high time businesses accepted that if they stay in a mixed residential/commercial location, they have to put some limit on the extent to which their activities blight residents' lives.
- SForeman, London UK, 15/12/2011 17:23
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The objective of the parking charges is to reduce the numbers of polluting vehicles that pour into the West End on weekends. Air pollution in the centre of London is now so severe that childrens' lung development is being affected, with life-time negative health impacts. I don't see why people should come into residential neighbourhoods and just dump their toxic and carcinogenic fumes, and the poisonous pulverised rubber from their tyres, on residents.
- Londoner2, London UK, 15/12/2011 17:21
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it could get worse those councilors at westminster councilcould end up as tory mps
- sally maylin, kent uk, 15/12/2011 17:11
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This is bad news for the people that live in this part of London - we have been let down by our council - Mr Barrow should listen to the voters of Westminster before the Evening Standard if he and his tory group wish to be re-elected next time.
- Jonathan, SW1, 15/12/2011 17:06
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A victory for common sense, i dont know quite who by , but well done whoever you are !!
- Brian Wilts, wiltshire, 15/12/2011 16:05
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Westminster have probably saved themselves from a massive blunder and damage to the economy of the West end.
- Fred the shred, London, 15/12/2011 15:49
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I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who is visiting Central London to take their car into London, when there is an adequate Tube and Bus and Taxi Service.
Its an absolute disgrace. We simply have to stop this nonsense and get more pedestrianisation into London.
- dhan raj, basildon, 15/12/2011 13:47
Have you tried to get on a tube recently Dhan? Even in the day they are packed out, I can see why people would want to travel with their families in cars. It's not an immoral thing to do you know, all that tax on petrol fills the coffers. And have you any idea what taxis cost? But why would you know, you live in Basildon.
- Stephen C, LONDON, 15/12/2011 15:21
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@ EuroLND, London "usually involves drink" - and the word is "usually" which in my humble degree educated brain means that not everyone will drink, so some people may want to drive ("designated driver" i think the term may be to us Londoners).
If they wanted "clean safe streets", why double the parking fee in a time of global recession ? who are they trying to kid. In the long term (which govts dont oftent think), this will keep money coming in to the West End, people off the dole queues and be better for the economy overall and in the long run.
- Leigh (Gooner), London, 15/12/2011 14:58
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A victory for common sense. I am most grateful to those who campaigned and to the local constituents who also supported the cause. I work nights in Victoria and have to drive in on a Saturday night as the tube does does not start till le on a Sunday.i am sure elderly and people with non registered disabilities will be celebrating.
- Lesley finlayson, Walthamstow, London, 15/12/2011 14:55
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Well done everyone, common sense being applied for a change.
Now can we have the same attitude against the banks plans for charging us to use the atms. RBS have plans in the pipeline i understand.
- Mr S.Port, London, 15/12/2011 14:51
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Despite Boris commending Hedge fund millionaire Colin Barrow's "wisdom and bravery" the current leader of Westminster Council has stated that he is still committed to his money raising scheme and has only postponed its implementation because a judge told him he had to.
So the fight will go on, against the night time parking charges and the motorbike parking tax; the ultimate aim must be to prevent Councils from profiteering from parking regulations.
Parking revenues need to go to a central government fund with local council's making the regulations appropriate to their areas without the incentive of raising revenue for the council coffers.
- Dave, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, 15/12/2011 14:39
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Dhan, do I tell YOU how to do things in Basildon......! You're not a Londoner, keep out of our affairs.
- Dave, London, 15/12/2011 14:31
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Dhan Raj - you are quite right about during the normal 8-6 working day commute. You are completely wrong about evenings. You forget the many customers who live outside the tube zones, and the staff who have to get home in the early hours. How do you get home after the theatre, if your last train leaves before you can reach the station? How does the double-bassist get his instrument to and from his evening gig? Do single women feel safe walking to cars in off-street car parks, or on night buses? (If they don't they won't work in or use the West end). Ditto for maybe different reasons, the over-65s? Ditto, familes?
The clear fact is that there's no congestion problem on the roads outside the West end after 8pm, and not enough of a problem inside it to justify these huge parking charges. If there are particular places on the main roads where parked cars are causing serious evening congestion, the answer is a double-yellow line not a parking meter. The council is trying (illegally) to surtax the motorists, and is in danger of killing its West-end goose that lays much larger golden eggs than and reward from parking meters.
- Nigel, London, 15/12/2011 14:28
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Its an absolute disgrace. We simply have to stop this nonsense and get more pedestrianisation into London.
- dhan raj, basildon, 15/12/2011 13:47
are you from a different planet? the tube system is the most expensive mile-for-mile travel in europe; you can't get into a train and drive it whenever you feel like it; and the issue is not about pedestrianisation it is about travelling into the west-end from the suburbs and the home counties (in comfort and relative safety) and parking there at your leisure (until you, and not the public transport system, decide you want to go home) without lining the pockets of a short-sighted small-minded council
- verna, london, uk, 15/12/2011 14:24
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are you from a different planet? the tube system is the most expensive mile-for-mile travel in europe; you can't get into a train and drive it whenever you feel like it; and the issue is not about pedestrianisation it is about travelling into the west-end from the suburbs and the home counties (in comfort and relative safety) and parking there at your leisure (until you, and not the public transport system, decide you want to go home) without lining the pockets of a short-sighted small-minded council
- verna, london, uk, 15/12/2011 14:20
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Wrong decision. Anything that discourages private car use in central London is a positive. I do not understand why anyone would want to drive into central London, and especially for a "night out"? That usually involves some degree of alcohol, so you can't drive back out anyway. What is the point? London has one of the best public transport networks in the UK -- there is zero reason to take a private car into the West End. The entire central area ought to be fully pedestrianised.
- EuroLND, London, 15/12/2011 14:18
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I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who is visiting Central London to take their car into London, when there is an adequate Tube and Bus and Taxi Service.
Its an absolute disgrace. We simply have to stop this nonsense and get more pedestrianisation into London.
- dhan raj, basildon, 15/12/2011 13:47
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So Barrow "we will continue to listen"? will we? I don't think you'll be leader by the time this comes around again, and Lee Rowley must surely be looking at the ashes of his political career by now. You have created such damage to the Tory vote, in my opinion, that powers much higher than you have already decided your future. I'm keeping a close eye on this because the issue has been kicked in to the long grass for now, leaving you with the prospect of trying it again too close to a local council election for comfort. So, do you think Westminster voters will vote councillors in again who supported this disgrace? Mmmmm.......don't think so somehow mateyboy! And now we're on the subject, how about reinstating the miles of single yellow lines you've removed to create this 'congestion'? Just my opinion....
- Dave, London, 15/12/2011 13:39
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While I'm really pleased about this, Westminster council were forced into this by the High Court. They'd still press ahead given half a chance. Till they change their minds voluntarily, the fight goes on.
- Dave Markham, London, UK, 15/12/2011 13:38
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When's the next council election due? Can't wait to see if this lot get back in...
- Baron von Richtofen, Biggin Hill, 15/12/2011 13:27
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Good news, but what a kerfuffle to make Barrow Boy withdraw this nutty proposal. Even Westminster residents (let alone businesses) were not consulted about this proposal, had no chance to offer opinions or solutions and were told to shut up when they objected. Friends of mine in the local Conservative Association were bullied at a committee meeting only two weeks ago for daring to raise valid objections to the parking proposals (and they live in the affected wards!), and were told that their meetings would be supervised from HQ because they had spoken out against these charges and the totally undemocratic way they were put forward. Thank goodness the campaign run by the Standard with input of many sensible Londoners(of all political creeds) has produced a reprieve. It's now time to ensure the proposal is seen off for good.
- Westminster resident, Marylebone, 15/12/2011 13:14
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Great news.
Please keep the pressure on for removal of the motorcycle parking tax - a disgraceful attack on people who actively reduce congestion and don't forget that the bikers have campaigned alongside the night workers on this one.
- Uncle Paulie, London UK, 15/12/2011 13:08
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A brilliant decision for just about everyone (except a very greedy council). It is a great shame that it took a judicial review to force common sense. Lets celebrate what hopefully will be a total shelving of a really really stupid idea.
- Great!, London, 15/12/2011 13:01
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Get in!
- Claudio, London, 15/12/2011 12:59
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Great start
Now how about returning to when it was free to park all day Saturday .
- common sense, london, 15/12/2011 12:50
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Now do the same with motorcycle charges.
- Steve, London, UK, 15/12/2011 12:34
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