Latest motorbike parking protest in Westminster

Hundreds of angry motorbikers converged in Westminster for the latest protest against bike parking charges introduced by the council.

The motorcyclists have been campaigning for the last 12 months against daily parking fees of £1.50, or £150 a year, to park in the borough.

In May, Westminster Council reduced the charges to £1 a day, or £100 a year, and also introduced 900 free motorcycle spaces in its car parks.

But the bikers have vowed to keep protesting until the charges are dropped completely.

Their latest protest was held on Sunday at Golden Square, Soho, before moving towards Westminster City Hall, in Victoria Street, Victoria.

Charlie Lort-Phillips, a member of the No To Bike Parking Fees campaign group, said: “We think the demonstration went very well.

“There was a turn-out of around 1,000 to 1,500 people, which shows we’re still taking on the council and standing up for ourselves.

“Some people thought we would just give up, but we’re sticking to our guns and not going away.”

An official decision about whether the £1 daily charge will be made permanent is expected by the end of August.

Westminster Council’s cabinet member for city management Cllr Danny Chalkley said: “We have listened to motorcyclists and responded by making available 900 free motorcycle bays in our safe and secure car parks, and reducing the daily charge to park a motorcycle all day anywhere in the city to just £1.

“There are now almost 7,000 dedicated motorcycle bays in Westminster and these new changes demonstrate our continued commitment in providing excellent parking services across central London.

“We recognise that motorcyclists are an important part of the transport mix.

“We were one of the first councils in the country to permit motorcycles to drive in bus lanes and we continue to welcome open and constructive dialogue on the future of motorcycling in Westminster.”