FOLLOWING THE announcement that there will be a peaceful protest on 31st March 2009 against the introduction of an “experimental parking tax” on motorcycles and scooters, Westminster City Council have written to the organisers in an attempt to disuade them from holding the demonstration.
Their letter, to Committee Chairman Warren Djanogly, dated 12 March 2009, reads:
Dear Mr Djanogly,
Thank you for your emails of 9th and 10th March in connection with
Westminster's press release dated 9th March 2009, the contents of which I have
carefully noted.
Westminster fully accepts that lawful, peaceful protest is an entirely legitimate
method of disagreeing with any Council policy, including motorcycle charging. Our
use of the phrase “rogue motorcycle protestors” emphasises the fact that the majority
of protestors have behaved lawfully and reasonably.
However, the duty of care to our staff, and the responsibility of maintaining public
order in Westminster, is taken extremely seriously. Westminster will therefore take
appropriate action against campaigners, including those associated with the “No To
Bike Parking Fees” campaign, who do break the law or harass our staff. I note that to
date you have failed to publicly challenge, question or condemn those individuals
who have acted illegally, or sought to intimidate or harass officers and members,
deface public property, or impersonate an elected Member of Westminster Council.
I cannot comment further on the attempt to obtain confidential information by
impersonating an elected Member since this matter is currently being investigated by
the Police Computer Crimes Unit. No doubt they will contact you directly if they
deem it appropriate.
Westminster has maintained a comprehensive incident log recording illegal acts and
incidences of intimidation and harassment. This is regularly updated and shared with
the Police. This is not a public document and cannot be shared with you.
Furthermore, I strongly urge you to desist from actions which damage the West End
economy. Your recent protest hindered hard pressed retailers and caused delay and
inconvenience on many transport routes. These are not the actions of a responsible
group. I call on you to cancel your protest ride on 31st March, which will
inevitably delay Londoners seeking to go about their business, many on their journey
home. I welcome your attendance at the Built Environment Policy &
Scrutiny Meeting to put your case, but other actions are unnecessary and excessive.
They do not promote your arguments, and will disrupt many Londoners with no part
to play in your protest.
Given your record of publicising our correspondence, I am making this letter public in
addition to copying to the elected Members of Westminster Council.
Yours Sincerely,
Danny Chalkley
We reckon Mr Chalkley's got a bee in his bonnet. Don't you?
