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://notobikeparkingfees.com or http://www.31st-march.com
Westminster City Council website: http://www.westminster.gov.uk/transportandstreets/parking/
