Cycling campaign is threatened by council's greed

I read with concern the reports that Camden Council has put its greed for revenue from car parking above cross-London efforts to increase cycling in the capital. According to reports, Camden – along with just one other borough – is defying City Hall plans

I read with concern the reports that Camden Council has put its greed for revenue from car parking above cross-London efforts to increase cycling in the capital.

According to reports, Camden - along with just one other borough - is defying City Hall plans for a bike hire scheme, modelled on the Velib scheme in Paris.

Camden was asked to give up space for just one docking station for bikes for the scheme. But the Town Hall has said no, not wanting to see revenue from car parking lost.

Before they were elected, the Lib Dems made much of how they would be the greenest party and pledged to slim down the parking regime. It turns out this was all talk.

Now we see their true colours - revenue from parking is higher than ever, and a perfect opportunity to promote cycling across the capital has been ignored.

Of course, they have form when it comes to failing on green issues - one of the first cuts they made was to a scheme promoting doorstep recycling on estates.

And in this year's budget, they hiked up the charge for reserving parking bays for green car-hire schemes from �400 to �1,800, to recoup parking charges.

I almost feel sorry for Cllr Rowell, the so-called 'eco-champion' for Camden. He must wonder what he has to do to make his Lib Dem party colleagues running the council live up to their hollow words on green issues.

Mike Katz

Chair, Hampstead & Kilburn

Labour Party

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