Environment

U-Turn on parking charges in the West End

by liamssoft | December 16, 2011 at 04:02 am

105 views | 10 Recommendations | 2 comments

Controversial plans to charge for parking in Westminster have been halted.

Parking fees were to be rolled out across the central London borough from January, ranging from £2.20 to £4.40 an hour.

But opponents claim that job losses will result by costing firms £714m a year.

Now the Conservative-run council has backed down, until after the Olympic Games at least

No parking charges will be introduced until late in July 2012.

London Mayor Boris Johnson has welcomed the move, following the announcement of a judicial review on the matter set for March.

A judicial review into the parking scheme is thought to be behind the U-turn.

Senior figures on the council had insisted the roll-out would go ahead as recently as last Sunday (December 11).

Westminster Council leader Colin Barrow was defiant in face of the legal challenge.

“The judge rejected 10 of the 12 grounds for judicial review submitted by the applicants, but it does also require us to postpone implementation of the scheme, pending the full hearing.

“We are confident that we will be successful at such a hearing on the strengths of our arguments, the comprehensive consultation and the need to make central London less congested.”

Speaking on radio, Mayor Johnson hailed the decision as “brave and correct.”

“It is very important that the West End should be confident and that businesses should not have any extra burdens,” said Mr Johnson. http://www.london24.com/news/politics/westminster_parking_charge_u_turn_no_fees_from_january_1_1155147

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how fast is 4g (not verified)

at 20:20 on March 11th, 2012

few years back the company I worked for went bankrupt and I was out of a job and pretty bummed. I needed something to clear my mind and spirit, but what I didn't know....