West Ending: Hospitality’s elite unite with 15,000 workers and residents to oppose Westminster parking charges

13-Dec-2011 - Last updated on 12-Apr-2024 at 10:37 GMT

Michelle Roux Jr (centre), Richard Bridgeman (second from right), and Peter Stringfellow (second from left) are all against the Westminster parking charges

They have been slammed by Caprice Holdings’ Richard Caring, strongly opposed by MPs and London Mayor Boris Johnson, and estimated to threaten over 5,000 local jobs. Now, over 15,000 West End workers and residents have united in signing petitions to halt the proposed night-time parking charges for the area.

New signatures are being added every day to the four petitions currently in circulation. Westminster Council has also received 973 written submissions to its request for comments on the controversial plans.

The petitions

9,712 signatures on the parking petition organised by casino worker Louise Bennett.
3,265 signatures on the parking petition organised by councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of Westminster Council Labour Group.
1,966 signatures on the parking petition organised by Nazneen Faruk and Mayfair’s Peter Wetherell.
696 signatures on the parking petition organised by Westminster Churches against sunday parking charges.

West Ending campaign video

The below video reports on the West Ending campaign, with various views and opinions of critics of the scheme. Among those speaking in the video is celebrity chef Michelle Roux Jr, who said: “These new parking restrictions are going to cripple businesses. It also means that businesses are going to have to get rid of staff and that can only be bad for Westminster.”

Richard Bridgeman, chairman of the Restaurants Association, and nightclub owner Peter Stringfellow also gives their views.

To find out more about the West Ending campaign, visit www.westending.org

BigHospitality’s timeline of Westminster parking charges

25 Jan 2010 - The British Hospitality Association initially voiced its opposition to the plans by Westminster City Council to extend car parking charges to midnight Monday to Saturday.
2 August 2011 - Westminster City Council announced it was to introduce the parking charges.
22 November 2011 – Richard Caring, chairman of Caprice holdings, slammed the decision, claiming 'it is the dumbest thing I ever heard’.
05 December 2011 - News that those working in Westminster after 6.30pm will be given a discounted rate when parking charges are extended came as no comfort or relief to businesses or employees, with Labour councillor Paul Dimoldenberg giving his views.
08 December 2011 – A study from the Centre for Economics and Business Research forecasted that the charges will cost businesses in the area £800m a year.
13 December 2011 - 15,600 petitions and counting.
09 January 2012 - The new charges are set to come into effect, meaning drivers will no longer be able to park for free in the borough after 6.30pm or leave cars on single yellow lines.

Westminster City Council's response

In response to the widespread concerns of the scheme, Westminster City Council have this week struck a deal with National Car Parks (NCP), allowing Sunday and night workers in the West End, as well as workers across Westminster, to park for £5 all night.

Councillor Lee Rowley, cabinet member for parking and transport, said: “We are listening to concerns from the public and as promised we will continue to plot a positive way forward in addressing those concerns.

“This new deal will benefit those that work late into the night as much as those travelling to church on a Sunday afternoon.”

Over 2,550 spaces will be available at £5 all night across 15 car parks around the West End and Soho. Hospitality businesses who wish to sign up for the deal can contact NCP London on 0207 406 6916.