Appeal to challenge Westminster Council's motorbike parking charge rejected
A BID to challenge the legality of Westminster Council s unpopular motorbike parking charge was rejected by the High Court on Friday. In a landmark case, the court ruled against an appeal by campaigners to stop the council from levying a �1 per day on-str
A BID to challenge the legality of Westminster Council's unpopular motorbike parking charge was rejected by the High Court on Friday.
In a landmark case, the court ruled against an appeal by campaigners to stop the council from levying a �1 per day on-street parking charge for motorcyclists.
Two judges ruled that the levy is not simply a device for Westminster Council to raise revenue.
They also threw out claims by leaders of the "No To Bike Parking Tax" campaign that the council had not carried out a full consultation before introducing the scheme.
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Campaign chairman Warren Djanogly had accused the council of acting outside its powers and claimed the fees were unlawful.
But Lord Justice Pitchford said in his ruling that budgeting for a modest surplus did not invalidate the scheme or mean there was an ulterior motive in charging motorcyclists.
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"It was, and is, accepted by the council that charging measures may not be introduced for the purpose of increasing either its general income or its income to be applied for transport policy purposes," he said.
Mr Djanogly, 47, a management consultant who rides a Yamaha 1300 Midnight Star, said the legal cost of the battle is being met by donations from more than 700 campaigners, many of whom packed the court during the hearing and judgment.
Cllr Lee Rowley, Westminster's parking and transportation boss, said: "Our decision to charge motorcyclists �1 per day to park has been rigorously scrutinised, open to widespread public debate and has now been tested in the High Court.
"We have always maintained that with huge demand for on-street space in Westminster charging motorcyclists a small sum to park was reasonable and fair and I'm glad the judge has re-iterated this.
