Pedicab riders asked to keep noise down

Westminster tries engagement alongside enforcement actions

Westminster City Council ongoing enforcement campaign against antisocial behaviour by pedicabshas seen a number of successful court prosecutions.

The council is now placing a focus on educating riders as well as preventing noise nuisance.

City inspectors joined Metropolitan Police officers on enforcement patrolling known hotspots in Soho, the West End, Mayfair, and outside Selfridges on Oxford Street.

The patrols found that those playing overly loud music are now a small minority. But prosecution against four riders will be pursued after operators were found blasting out a variety of pop, house and rock music.

As part of the new strategy, Westminster’s city inspectors handed out leaflets to pedicab operators warning if they play create excessive noise after 9pm they will be prosecuted. The leaflet also underlined the consequences if caught.

Police officers shared information about the new Community Protection Notice used under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839. This aims to combat nuisances by persons on roads, pavements, and side streets. With these additional powers, it is hoped that pedicab riders begin to be more considerate to residents and visitors who want to enjoy Westminster’s night-time economy lawfully.

Prosecutions are taking place where breaches are deemed serious. Eight pedicab riders were required to appear at City of London Magistrates Court on 15 March.

A total of £4,792 in fines, costs, and victim surcharges were handed down to riders under the Control of Pollution Act 1974. These offences were from enforcement operations that took place last year.

Westminster’s deputy leader and cabinet member for public protection and licensing, Cllr Aicha Less said: “It is fantastic to hear that last year’s progress made by our council officers has continued and I hope fines like those handed down continue. Despite our hard work, the lack of central government support is just not good enough.

“It leaves us tackling pedicabs with one hand tied behind our back. They need to give Transport for London more licensing powers. We will continue to do everything we can to stop rogue riders ruining the lives of residents and spoiling Westminster for our visitors.”

Man banned from touching meters

Liverpool Magistrates Court on 28 February.

Brennan was convicted of a recent theft from a parking meter in William Brown Street. The order stipulates that Brennan cannot touch or interfere with any parking meter anywhere in Liverpool for two years.

Lime to fine bad parking of dockless bikes

Westminster City Council has welcomed new measures to prevent irresponsible parking by dockless bike users. Following discussions with the council, bike rental operator Lime has announced it will increase the initial fines for improper parking from £2 to £10 in Soho and Covent Garden.

The council has also agreed new geofencing locations with the operator which will prevent bikes from being parked in certain streets. If users attempt to park their bikes in these no-parking zones they will continue to be charged by the app until the bike has been moved.

The new measures have come into force this week in areas such as Soho Square, Cambridge Circus, and Old Compton Street. The council has also called for apps to be improved so residents and businesses can report badly parked bikes more easily. Discussions between the council and dockless bike companies about creating designated parking bays are ongoing.

Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, cabinet member for city management, said: “These new measures are a step in the right direction to ensure the West End is accessible for everyone. Residents have told us they are sick and tired of badly parked dockless bikes blocking narrow pavements and roads.”

Nicholas Brennan

A Liverpool man has been banned from touching parking machines for two year.

The Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) prohibits him from touching any parking meters in Liverpool after being convicted of theft.

Nicholas Brennan, 53, of Fenwick Street in Liverpool city centre was given the order at

Community policing Sergeant Charles Cottier said: “Offences against parking meters carry an enormous burden to the taxpayer which is unacceptable. For Liverpool City Council alone it is estimated to cost more than £100,000 per annum to repair damage to these machines.

“Your Local Policing team has recognised this, and the CBO granted today against Brennan reflects his disregard for others. Should he breach the order then he could be imprisoned.”

Verge parking in the East Riding

Verge parking blights rural areas

Drivers are damaging grass verges when parking in and around villages in East Yorkshire.

The council has agreed to motion Cllr Viv Padden raised calling for ways to tackle the problem to be scrutinised by East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

The Lib Dem councillor highlighted how verge parking affects places such as

Fridaythorpe, North Dalton, Anlaby and Hessle.

Cllr Richard Meredith, chair of the environment and regeneration sub-committee, which looks at highways issues, said solutions needed to come through a creative use of existing measures because of how little the council could do to stop it outright.

The issue is expected to be discussed by the committee.

90% of vehicles comply with London

Transport for London says ultra low emission zone is working

London’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) scheme is encouraging the vast majority of drivers to switch from older, more polluting vehicles, new data from Transport for London (TfL) suggests. The findings suggest that the ULEZ charge will not apply to 90% of vehicles when the zone expands to cover all London boroughs on 29 August 2023. The zone currently goes out as far as, but not including, the north and south circular roads.

In November 2021, TfL estimated car compliance at 85%, up from around 75% estimated from earlier analysis of cars seen in June 2020. TfL is advising people to use its vehicle checker tool to see if they will be affected.

The London-wide ULEZ is vital in tackling the triple threats of air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion, and will ensure five million more people can breathe cleaner air, said TfL. It estimates that around 4,000 Londoners die prematurely each year as a result of toxic pollution and can lead to stunted lungs in children and a higher risk of dementia in older people.

The ULEZ has helped to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels by 46% in central London and 21% in inner London,