News from Westminster Labour

Labour councillors demand a review of motorbike parking tax

Westminster’s Labour Councillors have demanded a review of the City Council’s £1.50p a day motorbike tax which users say is unjustified as it has not resulted in any improvements in parking facilities or bike security. Motorbike riders say that the new motorbike parking charge is operating as a tax on users and is simply another way of raising money for the City Council.

Motorbike users point out that they should be encouraged, not penalised, because motorbikes:

* are low polluters;
* do not cause congestion;
* do not require a large parking space;
* keep traffic moving;
* relieve pressure on the buses and tubes.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group, said:

“Motorbike oweners in Westminster are angry that they are having to pay a new tax to the Council for which they are getting absolutely no benefits. There has been a huge number of protests to the Council and the right thing to do is to review the motorbike parking tax to see if it should be scrapped or modified.”

“Because the Council has put £17 million of Council Tax payers’ money at risk by the Conservatives’ reckles gamble on Icelandic investments, there is a strong suspicion that residents – including motorbike owners – will now have to pick up the bill through new taxes and service cuts.”

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