PRLog (Press Release) –
Aug 09, 2009 – Motorcycle and Scooter Traders are joining the fight against Westminster City Council’s Motorcycle Parking ‘Tax’, lending financial support and publicity to the No To Bike Parking Tax Campaign in the run up to the legal challenge being prepared against the scheme.
Metropolis Motorcycles, one of London’s leading dealers in scooters and motorcycles, has pledged to match the donations of ordinary bikers to the Campaign by 15p for every £1 donated to the campaign, in a move which marks a huge shift in the scope of the group, which was only founded 11 months ago but already has over 6000 registered members on it’s website.
Warren Djanogly, Chairman of the No To Bike Parking Tax Campaign, said today:
“Metropolis are standing up alongside their customers in telling Westminster that this tax is an utterly retrograde step. We are extremely happy that such an iconic dealer has spoken out against this cash-grab and look forward to the day when Metropolis and other traders can once again sell bikes with the promise of free parking.’
Other traders to have provided backing include Devitt Insurance, South London Motorrad, RAP Superbikes, R.Agius, and BykaTryka. MCE Insurance, Inifinity, and Doble Motorcycles have been publicising the campaign and informing customers of demonstrations and ways to object to the scheme.
The campaign is taking Westminster to court in an effort to highlight shortcomings in the consultation scheme, disparities over the money raised and where it will be spent, omissions in statutory processes, and the overall legality of the scheme. It is also hoped that the publicity generated will lead to a further backlash at what is seen by most in the biking community as a short sighted cash grab.
Clr. Chalkley admitted on More4 News on July 1st that the scheme was bringing in revenue, despite the original scheme being sold on it’s revenue neutrality. Westminster is actively attempting to sell the scheme to other boroughs in an attempt to raise further revenue. Bike Parking Taxes could take up to £93million/year from bikers if rolled out nationally.
Charlie Lort-Phillips, Press Spokeman, said:
“Westminster thought that if they just hung on long enough this would all go away. The backing for our campaign from Metropolis and other traders clearly shows that if anything the resolve to defeat this ridiculous revenue-generating and punitive tax has grown stronger.”
Thousands of bikers are expected to descend again on the centre of London on Sunday 16th August in a symbolic presentation of a giant legal summons outside Westminster City Hall.
Notes to Editors:
THE NEXT DEMONSTRATION WILL LEAVE ACE CAFÉ AT 11AM, RALLY IN GOLDEN SQUARE FROM 12-1230, AND CONTINUE TO WESTMINSTER CITY HALL AT 1300
METROPOLIS MOTORCYCLES CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.metropolismotorcycles.com/
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PREVIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com/photos/
VIDEOS OF THE PREVIOUS DEMONSTRATIONS CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ojosef
For further information on the campaign, quotes or photos, please contact Warren Djanogly, campaign chair, at:
chairman@notobikeparkingfees.com
or Charlie Lort-Phillips (Press Spokesman) on:
07813 138 517
charlie@notobikeparkingfees.com / charlielp@mac.com
1) The No To Bike Parking Fees protest group is the leading voice challenging the charges, and has enlisted the support of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, the Drivers’ Alliance, The British Motorcycle Federation, the Motorcycle Action Group, and thousands of bikers across the UK. Further information about the campaign can be found at www.notobikeparkingfees.com. To contact the TaxPayers’ Alliance, please contact Mark Wallace, Campaign Director of the Alliance, at:
Mark.wallace@taxpayersalliance.com
Mobile: 07736 009 548
2) Westminster City Council’s scheme involves a parking charge of £1 a day for every motorbike or scooter. To buy an annual parking pass now costs a minimum of £100. From introduction in August 2008 until July 2009, the parking tax raised over £4million.
3) In the Conservative Party’s key document on economic policy, “Reconstruction: Plan for a Strong Economy”, published at the Conservative Party Conference in September 2008 and signed by David Cameron and George Osborne, the first pledge in the Conservative agenda for Tax Reform is “an end to stealth taxes.” This document can be read here: http://www.conservatives.com/~/media/Files/Downloadable%20Files/Reconstruction_-_Plan_for_a_strong_economy.ashx?dl=true
4) In a letter in March to a supporter of the campaign, Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby and Shadow Transport Minister for Roads, said ““Please note that this is not a policy set by the Conservative Party nationally but a local policy decided by Westminster councillors. I hope that this will not be replicated widely".
5) In response to question 446/2009, Mayor Boris Johnson said about the parking tax: “I am keen to encourage the use of motorcycles in London, as evidenced by my recent announcement to allow motorcycles in bus lanes on the TLRN. I will ask TfL to discuss with Westminster as to whether the introduction of this payment has led to a reduction in the number of people using motorcycles in central London.”
6)
Further quotes:
“To my mind, your notice (of future demonstrations) is not a warning I see it as a threat. Bully-boy tactics until you get your own way. A common sympton of the male species.” - Cllr Burbridge in response to a letter of objection.
“Chalkley’s call for a legitimate protest to be halted, and Cllr Burbridge’s outrageous comments, clearly show the level to which the proponents of this tax have sunk in order to smear those opposed to it.” Warren Djanogly, NTBPF
“Please note that this is not a policy set by the Conservative Party nationally but a local policy decided by Westminster councillors. I hope that this will not be replicated widely". Robert Goodwill MP, Shadow Roads Minister
“I am keen to encourage the use of motorcycles in London, as evidenced by my recent announcement to allow motorcycles in bus lanes on the TLRN. I will ask TfL to discuss with Westminster as to whether the introduction of this payment has led to a reduction in the number of people using motorcycles in central London.” Mayor Boris Johnson in response to Question 446/2009
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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
