London council brings in Sunday parking charges

Westminster Cathedral - image ICN

Westminster City Council has voted to introduce hefty parking charges on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons in parts of central London - in spite of large protests, letters, and a 3,000 strong petition from churches in the area, whose congregations and welfare projects for children, the homeless and elderly will be affected.

Until now, evening and Sunday parking has been free. From December, the cost of parking from 1-6pm on a Sunday will range from £2.20 to £4.40 for an hour. The council says the parking changes could bring in £7million. They will be introduced on an 18-month experimental basis.

Councillor Lee Rowley said: "While I recognise that parking controls are not popular, research shows that in some parts of the West End it is now more difficult to park on a Sunday and on weekday evenings than it is during the working week. These new policies will mean our residents will be able to park near their homes, businesses can continue to deliver goods, and visitors can have a realistic expectation that they will be able to park when coming into the city."

A spokesman from Westminster Diocese said: "Archbishop Vincent Nichols made clear to Westminster City Council the very serious impact it would have on the Sunday activities of all Catholic churches within Westminster, especially on families with children and those who need to be assisted in their travel arrangement, and on the negative impact it could have on charitable activities which are helped by Catholics going to Mass on Sundays."

Father William Pearsall, from Farm Street Catholic church in Mayfair, said: "Our volunteer community activities are really valuable. It will present a huge loss to the local community if these plans affect our volunteers."

Michael Beckett, Church Warden of St George's Anglican Church in Hanover Square, said: "Sunday parking charges will seriously damage the spiritual heart of the city, and limit the good works undertaken by all the central London churches".

Major Ray Brown, of the Salvation Army, who staged a 300-strong protest with a brass band outside the town hall last week, said the council has ignored the concerns of Westminster’s churches. He said those wishing to attend morning and afternoon services will be unable to do so, because of a four-hour limit on parking.

Rev Sue Keegan Von Allmen, of Hinde Street Methodist Church, said she thought some parishioners would simply not be able to afford to come into London to attend her church.

Westminster parishioner Jane Lowe said: "This charge will prohibit my family from visiting me. It is the only day they can come but I doubt they will be able to afford such high charges."

Westminster Council is also currently considering making it illegal for charities to distribute food to homeless people on streets in the borough.