News from Westminster Labour

Wardens and cameras rake in £1.5m in parking fines in Queensway

Conservatives introduce a new ‘Queensway Tax’ as almost 12,500 parking tickets issue in last 12 months.

Traffic wardens and cameras have been responsible for issuing 12,464 parking tickets in Queensway over the past 12 months, raking in over £1.5 million in fines for Westminster City Council. Queensway is the fourth most lucrative parking fine road in London, according to an ‘Evening Standard’ survey which puts Queensway behind Station Road in Harrow, Southampton Row in Camden and Chiswick High Road in Hounslow.

Labour Councillors say that Westminster Conservatives are using parking fines as another way of raising money from residents and have effectively introduced a new stealth tax on motorists using Queensway.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group said:

“Westminster’s finances are in such a dire situation that many residents in Bayswater and Lancaster Gate are now paying extra taxes through parking fines. Tens of thousands of Westminster residents use Queensway every week and many of them will have been given a £120 parking tax bill for minor parking offences. The new £120 ‘Queensway Tax’ will hit many residents hard over the coming months.”

Last month Labour Councillors revealed that there is a £20 million ‘black hole’ in Westminster City Council’s budget, £17 million of which is due to the Council receiving less income in parking fines and income than originally forecast.

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• Westminster Labour calls for an 'outbreak of democracy' over election of new council Leader - 2 February 2012