Protests Over Motorcycle Parking Tax Continue One Year On

Sept. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- Over a year after Cllr. Danny Chalkley confidently told fellow Councillors that opposition to his charging scheme for two wheeled vehicles would be short lived, the No To Bike Parking Tax Campaign is gearing up for another rally in the central London borough.

Demonstrators will be descending en masse on the Councillor’s electoral ward to encourage potential voters to examine his record more closely, including the shambles over the CCTV system, the ongoing chaos in his department with regard to it’s motorcycle policy, and the behaviour of the councillor in response to massive and ongoing dissent over the charges.

Warren Djanogly, Chairman of the Campaign, said:

“It is an endemic problem in this country that too many citizens, at local elections, where media coverage of the individuals standing is scant at best, tend to vote by Political Party affiliation as opposed to selecting the right individual for the job. And quite clearly, Danny Chalkley's track record more tha suggests that he is not right for the position of Councillor in any capacity. What is important is that residents realise what sort of man they elected last time round. This is not a party political act, we are not telling anyone which party to vote for, we are simply saying ‘DON’T VOTE FOR DANNY CHALKLEY’”.

The run-up to this demonstration has been marked by yet more failures in the controversial pay-by-phone system run by Verrus UK Ltd. Bikers who purchased annual permits have in many cases not received the ‘reminder to renew’ that they were promised (via email or text) and as a result are being issued with penalty notices, which they then have to appeal.

Charlie Lort-Phillips, of the NTBPT Campaign, said:

“One year on and we are still here, with Chalkley continuing to rake in cash from the one form of transport that should be actively encouraged in this city. Also still with us, regrettably, is the shambolic system run by Verrus which is now leading to hundreds of motorcyclists being ticketed simply because this pathetic excuse for a department cannot get it’s house in order.”

Cllr Chalkley has come under renewed fire over his attempt to appease bikers with free spaces in council run car parks, after it emerged that two of these are now being privatised with no guarantee of continued free spaces, and more could well be in the pipeline. Campaigners have responded angrily to what they see as a shallow attempt to circumvent earlier concessions, and have vowed to bring down the charge with renewed vigour.

Warren Djanogly stated:

“For those who have backed this campaign over the past year, those who have seen how the councillors have tried to play the system, those who have seen the arrogance, ineptitude, double-dealing, dirty tricks, greed and short sightedness of the instigators of this tax on mobility, nothing less than the total destruction of this scheme will now suffice. Chalkley has treated bikers in the same way he treats his electorate - with utter contempt, and as a result we are more determined than ever.”

The next demonstration is on the 30th September, leaving Golden Square at 1815 and visiting the Vincent Square Ward in Westminster.


PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PREVIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE:

http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com

VIDEOS OF THE PREVIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE:

www.youtube.com/user/ojosef

For further information on the campaign, quotes or photos, please contact Warren Djanogly, campaign chair, on:

07802 882 681
chairman@notobikeparkingfees.com

or Charlie Lort-Phillips (Press Spokesman) on:

07813 138 517
charlie@notobikeparkingfees.com / charlielp@mac.com

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The No To Bike Parking Fees protest group is the leading voice challenging the introduction of revenue raising parking charges in Westminster, with the support of the Taxpayers' Alliance and others. Further information is at www.notobikeparkingfees.com