News from Westminster Labour

Westminster Tories plan massive parking charge increases

£20 million ‘black hole’ in the Council’s finances forces Conservatives to increase charges for residents’ parking.

Above inflation increases in the cost of residents’ parking permits, a 100% increase in the cost of parking meter charges in St John’s Wood and the loss of free parking on single yellow lines after 6.30pm, have all been agreed by Westminster Council’s Conservative Cabinet, in an attempt to fill the Council’s £20 million hole in its budget. In addition, parking meter charges in the West End are increasing from £4.40p and hour to £5 an hour.

The parking charge increases include:

* Extending hours of parking control operation in the Inner Zones from Monday – Saturday until midnight. This change will result in the loss of parking on single yellow lines currently used free of charge by residents, as well as visitors, during the evening between 6.30 pm and Midnight.

* Increasing the charge for casual visitor parking in St John’s Wood and the surrounding areas from £1.10 to £2.20 per hour.

* Increasing the charge for casual visitor parking in the Inner zones from £4.40 to £5.00 per hour.

* Increasing the cost of a residents’ parking permit above inflation.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, Leader of the Labour Group said:

“These massive parking charge increases will hit residents, visitors and businesses hard. This is not about improving parking but all about raking in more money from local residents to fill the hole in the Council’s finances caused by the Conservatives’ financial incompetence.

“Visitors coming to see elderly relatives in many parts of Westminster will now have to pay to park in the evening. Local restaurants and other businesses will be hit hard as their customers will now have to pay to park in the evening rather than use single yellow lines. And every car owner will be hit by an above-inflation rise in the cost of a residents’ parking permit. This is bad news all round and shows the depths to which the Council’s finances have sunk that the Conservatives have been forced to take these panic measures just weeks before the General and Council elections.

“The Conservatives have denied residents a voice on these parking price increases but on 6th May Westminster residents will have opportunity to give their verdict.”