How do you fit 36,000 cars into 32,000 parking spaces? (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

How do you fit 36,000 cars into 32,000 parking spaces?

October 28, 2006 11:46 AM

All parking spaces must be open to residents - at all times

Ever found it hard to find a resident's parking space in Westminster? Well that shouldn't be a surprise when you consider that the Council has sold 36,000 residents' parking permits despite the fact that it has only provided 32,000 residents' parking spaces.

This revelation has come to light after Sir Simon Milton, Leader of Westminster Council, let slip the numbers in a letter to local Liberal Democrat Martin Thompson. The LibDem campaigner had written to the Conservative councillor on a series of parking issues brought to his attention by residents in Bayswater.

Explaining why the Council was against enabling those visiting residents to have limited access to residents' parking bays, Sir Simon admitted that, "the Borough has approximately 36,000 residents' permits on issue but only 32,000 residents' bays".

Commenting, Martin said:

"With 4,000 more permits than spaces, residents inevitably end up clogging up the roads and churning out more air pollution desperately looking for a space to park - and they often end up having to walk a long way back to their flat or house.

"There seem to be plenty of parking bays where non-residents pay to park, which of course make lots of money for the Council. At the moment residents can use those for some of the time, but not all. Why not allow residents to park in any bay, residents-only and pay and display, any time of the day or night?

"With the congestion charge zone taking in much more of Westminster from early next year the number of non-residents needing parking spaces will no doubt drop anyway. And discouraging people from outside Westminster from driving into central London, especially when there are such extensive public transport links, will help the environment too.

"Westminster residents must come first."

Owners of vehicles with an engine size over 1.2 litres have to pay £110, with a lower £78 charge levied on drivers of electric, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or hybrid cars, or cars with engine sizes less than 1.2l.