Dear Sir or Madam,

1) Now that Westminster are charging for motorbike parking, please
can you explain why the parking bays provided are not marked out in
separate bays (in the same way that car bays are marked out)?

2) Is it true that WCC have not marked out bays in order to
maximise the fees they receive for parking?

Currently the bays get over crowded and result in bikes being
squashed together causing scratches and other damage to motorbikes
parked in your bays

3) Given that:
- the squeezing in, which causes damage, is effectively supported
by WCC (no individual bays marked out)
- the fact WCC charge for motorbikes to park in these bays
- the total lack of guidance as to the number of bikes a bay is
suitable for
Will WCC now be reimbursing motorcyclists whose vehicles are
damaged in WCC bays?

Please ensure all 3 questions are answered in your response

Yours faithfully,

Graham

Confirmation of Freedom Of Information Request

Thank you for your request for information.

Your request details have now been recorded and will be passed on to the
appropriate Divisional Records Officer for action.

This Freedom Of Information Request was based on the following
information:

Name: Graham
Address: See email address
Email: [FOI #16677 email]
Telephone:
Request Details: 1) Now that Westminster are charging for motorbike
parking, please
can you explain why the parking bays provided are not marked out in
separate bays (in the same way that car bays are marked out)?

2) Is it true that WCC have not marked out bays in order to
maximise the fees they receive for parking?

Currently the bays get over crowded and result in bikes being
squashed together causing scratches and other damage to motorbikes
parked in your bays

3) Given that: - the squeezing in, which causes damage, is
effectively supported by WCC (no individual bays marked out) - the
fact WCC charge for motorbikes to park in these bays - the total
lack of guidance as to the number of bikes a bay is suitable for
Will WCC now be reimbursing motorcyclists whose vehicles are
damaged in WCC bays?

Please ensure all 3 questions are answered in your response

Yours faithfully,

FOI Reference Number: 4221
Target Completion Date: 08/09/2009

Please do not reply to this email.
This is an automatic response to your request, and replies to this message
will not be actioned.

If you need to contact Westminster City Council regarding your request,
please contact:

mailto:[Westminster City Council request email]
Tel:020 7641 3921

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Dear Sir/Madam

Please find the enclosed attachment below:

<<FOI4221 graham kr.doc>>

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Dear MotorCycleParking,

Thank you for your replies

Please could you clarify some items for me:

1 - In Westminster run car parks, motorcycle parking is free and
the bays are marked out as individual bays.
On the streets of Westminster, motorcycle parking is charged for
and the bays are NOT marked out as individual bays.
You say "The rationality for Westminster City Council (WCC) not
specifically outlining individual parking spaces with in the bay is
that they are attempting to maximise the use of the area to address
the demands for motorcycle parking"
So, are you saying that there is no demand for motorcycle parking
in Westminster car parks (since the bays are marked out as
individual bays)?

2 – Are you also saying that profits from maximised motorcycle
parking, are more important than the security of the fee payers
motorcycle?

3 – How does the council justify “maximising parking” at the
expense of motorcycle damage while still charging motorcycles to
park when the council stated that funds raised from motorcycle
parking would be used for security?

4 – Why does WCC feel that for motorcyclists “it is ultimately the
motorists’ reasonability to ensure the park safely and correctly”
and yet car drivers cannot be relied upon in this way and so need
separate parking bays?

5 – Given that “it is ultimately the motorists’ reasonability to
ensure the park safely and correctly” why do WCC only think this
will work with motorcyclists, who WCC describe as “bullies” and
“thugs”?

Yours sincerely,

Graham

Dear MotorCycleParking,

further to my previous response:

6 - Your reply states "I can advise that the dimensions of the
actual motorcycle bays comply with the Road Traffic Act 2002". Can
you direct me to a copy of this act as the Office of Public Sector
information (OPSI) web site fails to list and Road Traffic Acts for
the year 2002 (the link to the 2002 acts is
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2002a)

Yours sincerely,

Graham

Dear Sir/ Madam

Thank you for your recent email dated 27 August 2009; I acknowledge your concerns regarding FOI/4221.

Please allow me to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the typing error in my first response, I am sure you can appreciate that such errors can occur.

In my email dated the 20 August 2009, I advised you that the dimensions of the actual motorcycles bays comply with the Road Traffic Act 2002, when in fact it is stated in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 2002. I would like to direct you to an example of this in the TSRGD – 1028.4 Schedule 6.

Thank you for allowing me to amend my error, and I trust the above information is helpful.

Yours sincerely

Kerry Ross
Customer Relations Officer
Parking [email address]
Tel: (020) 7641 1743
Fax: (01349) 866874

Amanda Macphee
Customer Relations Manager

Leah Smith
Customer Relations Section Manager

<http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/parkright...>

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Dear Customer Relations,

Thank you for clarifying the act you referred to

Please note, I am still waiting for you to clarify the following
points as I sent to you on 26th August

1 - In Westminster run car parks, motorcycle parking is free and
the bays are marked out as individual bays. On the streets of
Westminster, motorcycle parking is charged for and the bays are NOT
marked out as individual bays. You say "The rationality for
Westminster City Council (WCC) not specifically outlining
individual parking spaces with in the bay is that they are
attempting to maximise the use of the area to address the demands
for motorcycle parking" So, are you saying that there is no demand
for motorcycle parking in Westminster car parks (since the bays are
marked out as individual bays)?

2 – Are you also saying that profits from maximised motorcycle
parking, are more important than the security of the fee payers
motorcycle?

3 – How does the council justify “maximising parking” at the
expense of motorcycle damage while still charging motorcycles to
park when the council stated that funds raised from motorcycle
parking would be used for security?

4 – Why does WCC feel that for motorcyclists “it is ultimately the
motorists’ reasonability to ensure the park safely and correctly”
and yet car drivers cannot be relied upon in this way and so need
separate parking bays?

5 – Given that “it is ultimately the motorists’ reasonability to
ensure the park safely and correctly” why do WCC only think this
will work with motorcyclists, who WCC describe as “bullies” and
“thugs”?

Yours sincerely,

Graham

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of
Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Westminster City
Council's handling of my FOI request 'Motorbike parking bays'.

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is
available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/mo...

On 26/27 August 2009 I requested clarification of the following, to
which I have had NO response:

"1 - In Westminster run car parks, motorcycle parking is free and
the bays are marked out as individual bays. On the streets of
Westminster, motorcycle parking is charged for and the bays are NOT
marked out as individual bays. You say "The rationality for
Westminster City Council (WCC) not specifically outlining
individual parking spaces with in the bay is that they are
attempting to maximise the use of the area to address the demands
for motorcycle parking" So, are you saying that there is no demand
for motorcycle parking in Westminster car parks (since the bays are
marked out as individual bays)?

2 – Are you also saying that profits from maximised motorcycle
parking, are more important than the security of the fee payers
motorcycle?

3 – How does the council justify “maximising parking” at the
expense of motorcycle damage while still charging motorcycles to
park when the council stated that funds raised from motorcycle
parking would be used for security?

4 – Why does WCC feel that for motorcyclists “it is ultimately the
motorists’ reasonability to ensure the park safely and correctly”
and yet car drivers cannot be relied upon in this way and so need
separate parking bays?

5 – Given that “it is ultimately the motorists’ reasonability to
ensure the park safely and correctly” why do WCC only think this
will work with motorcyclists, who WCC describe as “bullies” and
“thugs”?"

Yours faithfully,

Graham

Dear Graham,

Thank you for your email.

I will look into your query and aim to respond within 10 working days.

Kindest regards,

Tanya Holden
Data Protection & FOI Officer
Knowledge and Information Management
Westminster City Council
101 Orchardson Street
London, NW8 8EA
Tel: 0207 641 6451
Fax: 0207 641 2872
Email: [Westminster City Council request email]
[1]www.westminster.gov.uk

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Dear Graham,

Thank you for your recent email to the Council requesting an internal
review with regard to Freedom of Information Request 4221.

Please find our response attached.

<<Response to Request for Internal Review - Graham FOI 4221.doc>>

Kindest regards,

Tanya Holden
Data Protection & FOI Officer
Knowledge and Information Management
Westminster City Council
101 Orchardson Street
London, NW8 8EA
Tel: 0207 641 6451
Fax: 0207 641 2872
Email: [Westminster City Council request email]
[1]www.westminster.gov.uk

show quoted sections

References

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1. file://www.westminster.gov.uk