No To the Bike Parking Tax

Thank you to the thousands of you that attended the demonstration, we salute you! And thank you to all the supporters out there who couldn’t make it, we know there are plenty of you! Here are some photos from the demo, a full video report by our man in the studio will be available soon, to be the first to know about it sign up to our email alerts by filling in the small form on the right. For full set of photos from 11th May 09 demonstration click here.

Scroll down for a video of the ITV evening news, the demo was covered.

Next demo is planned for Tues, 9th June 2009 with a possible “mini-demo” planned for Sat, 23rd May 09 details to follow or sign up to our email alerts to find out first. Spread the word.

VIDEO: ITV EVENING NEWS.

The MEGA DEMO happened and it was exactly that… MEGA!

To watch the video of the Westminster City Council Built Environment, Policy and Scrutiny Committee Meeting in full (31st March 2009) then visit this link:

WATCH FULL VIDEO SCRUTINY MEETING VIDEO.

THE FIGHT GOES ON!

Photos from 31st March 2009

For photos from the demo, you maybe be in one! Go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/notobikeparkingtax/sets/72157616100642045/ to stay informed of future campaign updates and event please join our mailing list by filling out the form on the right. (WE WILL NEVER SPAM).

The campaign give their reasoned opposition to the charge, Warren Djanogly (NTBPT Chairman) starts off the presentation, followed by Dr Leon Mannings (Transport Consultant), Chris Hodder (BMF Government Relations Executive), Kilian Clissmann (Westminster Resident), Nich Brown (General Secretary of Motorcycle Action Group), Mark Wallace (TaxPayers’ Alliance). Following this the Built Environment, Policy and Scrutiny Committee give their “recommendations” (or pre thought decisions) on the experiment, after which Cllr Danny Chalkley (Spear head of the experimental tax) will make a final decision which will be released in the next few weeks we have been informed. Please leave your comments.

NOTE: Move forward to 7:50 on the first video, then the discussion on experimental motorcycle parking takes place, each video will progress automatically.

THE FIGHT GOES ON. SIGN UP TO OUR MAILING LIST ON THE RIGHT TO BE INFORMED OF FUTURE ACTION AND CAMPAIGN UPDATES.

Westminster pre-scrutiny meeting report, what a load of toilet rubbish. Download a copy.

Westminster have issued an 18 page report of the bike parking tax [Download PDF] ahead of the meeting, where the scrutiny committee are supposed to do just that, scrutinise the report and the experimental bike parking tax. In the meeting above the campaign presented 6 speakers all of which are refuting the report, and the experimental parking charge and will be saying everything you guys have wanted to say to Westminster directly, let us hope they listen and are not foolish enough to continue the experiment, or make it permanent for that matter. In the report they do offer suggestions for compromise… which we are having none off, the report itself is full of errors, they cannot even add up their own figures.

Download the report by none other than “One size Fitsall” (Keiran Fitsall).

Not long now and the 31st March will be upon us, the weather is looking good (Cllr Chalkley don’t try and do a rain dance, that would look silly… actually please do a rain dance, it will make us smile!!) We would like to announce a few developments over the past week and various press. To stay up to date please join our mailing list, fill the form on the right.

• TaxPayers’ Alliance issue a “Call to arms” to their members.
• Tory woman councillor accused of “sexist” email. (Please leave your comments with the hundreds of others.)
• Councillor urges ‘responsible’ motorbike protest. (Yeh right Cllr Chalkley.. A Message to you.. SCRAP THE TAX.)
• West End Extra, 27th March 2009 – “Letters to the editor” PDF.
• West End Extra, 27th March 2009 – “War of words on two wheels” PDF.

See you all on the 31st March, we will show Westminster Council just how many people oppose their tax.

Download the campaigns response to Cllr Danny Chalkley's letter sent on 12th March 2009. Click image above to download in full (PDF).

The “No To the Bike Parking Tax” campaign have issued a response to Cllr Danny Chalkley’s letter.

We hope you enjoy reading it! We also hope to see you on the 31st March 2009 to demonstrate against the introduction of Conservative Danny “experimental” Chalkley parking charges. Which clearly go against the will of the Conservative Party nationally and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson (read the letter on the right for full information!).

Councillor Chalkley is becoming more and more isolated on this issue and will eventually have to stop ignoring all the thousands who oppose the trial scheme.

If you ride a motorcycle or scooter, or even if you don’t, hey even if you ride a bicycle (because we are sure that Westminster are eyeing up the chance to pounce on unsuspecting cyclists with a parking charge in the future), or you just want to demonstrate your right to protest, make sure you are free on 31ST MARCH 2009! For a demonstration. United we can do something about these phony parking charges once and for all! BE THERE!

• POSTED IN RESPONSE TO: “Why… you naughty naughty naughty citizens!“

Spread the word about this campaign, contact us for more information.

Opposition against "experimental" motorcycle/scooter parking tax heats up!

The BMF have spoken out against the recent smear tactics (here and here) used by Westminster City Council against the “No To the Bike Parking Tax” campaign, this is their statement in full:

Westminster City Council – Not All Motorcyclists are Rogues

As the debate over Westminster Council’s motorcycle parking charges intensifies, the council have had to clarify the issuing of a press release that referred to ‘rogue motorcycle protestors.’

Writing to Councillor Danny Chalkley over the press release ‘Rogue Motorcycle Protestors May Face Legal Action’, BMF Government Relations Executive Chris Hodder said, “This is serious defamation against the good character of the BMF. The BMF was established 50 years ago to counter repeated anti-motorcyclist propaganda and here we are in the 21st century faced with the same old scare tactics.”

As supporters of the ‘No To Bike Parking Fees’ (NTBPF) campaign, the British Motorcyclists Federation says that a Westminster Council press release, singling out unofficial and wayward actions alleged to have been made by some protesters, muddies the waters and gives the impression that all motorcyclists, and especially those who are exercising their freedom of speech, are somehow ‘rogue’.

If some protesters have indeed overstepped the mark, the BMF condemns any acts that may constitute harassment, but insists that these would have been unofficial and did not warrant such a press release that in effect smears the NTBPF campaign.

In his response, Councillor Chalkley has made it clear that the Council accepts that ‘lawful, peaceful protest is an entirely legitimate method of disagreeing with any Council policy’, and that the ‘use of the phrase “rogue motorcycle protestors” emphasises the fact that the majority of protestors have behaved lawfully and reasonably.’

With a massive protest demonstration scheduled for 31st March, Councillor Chalkley has now asked that NTBPF ‘desist from actions which damage the West End Economy’ adding that ‘these are not the actions of a responsible group.’

In response the BMF say that protesting is a legitimate right and is the only effective way of making Westminster City Council know the strength of feeling on this issue.

Further information on NTBPF can be found at http://www.notobikeparkingfees.com or http://www.31st-march.com

Westminster City Council website: http://www.westminster.gov.uk/transportandstreets/parking/

Source: http://www.bmf.co.uk/pages/news.php?fullstory=892

Click on image above to view the full letter from Danny "Experimental" Chalkley. (PDF)

Danny “Experimental?” Chalkley has sent a message to all. He wants to close down legitimate free speech? So on the back of this we issue this public announcement:

We are telling you naughty naughty “rogue” and “militant“, Westminster residents, tax paying citizens, London commuters, Westminster shoppers, key workers, women, children, men, cats! Please stop it, stop demonstrating your right to protest, your right to object… if you don’t Westminster City Council will be very upset.

For others that are reading this wondering what happend, this campaign has been peacefully protesting against the introduction of an “experimental parking tax” on motorcycles and scooters (for more details read our mission statement), however, most recently Westminster City Council have not liked the fact they have received over 3000 objections and have decided that they would prefer it if good citizens of the UK were silenced, thus they have put legal pressure upon our campaign and forced the closure of a public debate, you can read the full details here, http://forum.notobikeparkingfees.com if that is not enough, Westminster City Council also issued a press release verging on libelous again as a campaign we have responded to it peacefully and considerately, read our press release “PUBLIC FORUM CLOSED AS RESULT OF WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LEGAL THREATS”.

• UPDATE: The BMF have since issued their own press release against Westminster’s attempts to try and smear our campaign, read it in full here.
• UPDATE 16TH MARCH 2009: Campaign response to Cllr Danny Chalkley’s letter. “Please don’t desert your colleague in his hour of need.“

Now… for any of you out there who wish to demonstrate your right to free speech and protest you need to be at Trafalgar Square on 31st March 2009 gathering between 5pm-6:15pm for a short ride to Westminster City Council where we can share our feelings with them. For full demonstration details go here: http://www.31st-march.com

Public forum shot down as a result of Westminster City Council legal threats.

The campaign forum used to be public, but due to the spying eyes and legal pressure of Westminster City Council “hushing up” it’s opposition the campaign forum has been closed. The campaign tried to be transparent with WCC but they have now forced the closure of this form of public debate used by honest citizens and even Westminster’s own residents. They don’t like the democratic process? And opposition? Are they labelling their own residents and citizens as “militant“? “rogue“? Just because they oppose the experimental parking tax.

For a full explanation of this closure of free speech and public debate, please go to the forum home page, where full details have been published for your reading.

We have issued a press release in response which can be downloaded here:

• Press Release in Full “PUBLIC FORUM CLOSED AS RESULT OF LOCAL COUNCIL LEGAL THREATS” download.

See you at the MEGA DEMO on the 31st March 2009, full details are here, this is even more reason for you to be there!

• UPDATE: Cllr Chalkley has since contacted us.. read the article here for more details: “Why… you naughty naughty naughty citizens!“

See you on the 31st March 2009!!! It is going to be a fun day!