The Stage

Parking politics

Published Tuesday 9 February 2010 at 11:20

I write in response to your editorial (Charges Challenged, February 4, page 8) and to also provide some context on our decision to undertake a major review of Westminster’s parking policies.

First, we do not enforce parking controls to generate profit for the council, which would be illegal. It is about dealing with the increasing pressures on roads in central London and working to balance the competing interests of businesses, visitors, residents and motorists in one of the capital’s busiest and most congested boroughs.

Secondly, we fully support theatres and businesses in Westminster and would do nothing to deliberately jeopardise the local economy. Indeed, we hold two car free days a year to attract more shoppers and visitors to the area and have carried out a number of major regeneration projects in Soho, Marble Arch and Oxford Circus.

Moreover, every year we organise West End Live - the UK’s biggest free theatre festival. Based in Leicester Square it features leading acts from top West End shows and last year it attracted a record number of visitors - 250,000 people over two days. An estimated £2.5 million was spent by West End Live visitors last year with £1.1 million directly attributable to the event.

Thirdly, while our parking income last year was £80million, it’s important to note that more than half of this covered the cost of implementing the service while the remainder - £35 million - was invested back into major transport projects.

Finally, I want to emphasise that our latest ideas on the future of parking policy in Westminster represent the beginning of a long-term discussion and we have not yet prepared any detailed proposals for final decisions.

However, before we get to the decision stage - which will be totally transparent and open to scrutiny - we will work with local residents and businesses to make sure that we take account of everyone’s needs as fairly as possible.

Councillor Danny Chalkley

Cabinet Member for City Management

Westminster City Council

Email Supplied