DANNY CHALKLEY - YOUR COUNCILLOR!

Since August 2008, the No To Bike Parking Tax has been locked in a battle with Cllr Danny Chalkley over the imposition of parking charges on motorcycles and scooters, a form of transport that had until that point been actively encouraged across our capital city.

The Campaign has maintained from day one that this was nothing to do with parking management, and all about what Cllr. Chalkley does best - clawing in revenue from visitors and residents alike. Here are a few examples of Cllr. Chalkley's attitude to you, the voting residents, as well as visitors to your borough: (Click here for more information)

Does Cllr. Chalkley have an open drop-in surgery for you, his residents? Of 49 Conservative Councilors, 30 do not - Chalkley is one of those who doesn't. (Click here for more information)



The consultation process for the introduction of the charges was used to justify the introduction of the experimental scheme across the borough. However, Chalkley was forced to admit further down the line that the consultation had not been in any way 'thorough', and that most of those consulted had objected to the scheme. MAG and BMF wrote an open letter expressing their anger at being used in such a way, and Chalkley was forced to change the wording on the council's website as a result. (Click here for more information)



Labeling the protestors as 'rogues', despite their good behavior on previous demonstrations, and attempting to smear the campaign with allegations of intimidation and impersonation (allegations which had been dealt with months beforehand and closed for discussion) he called on the demonstrators not to exercise their voice on the streets - this is not a call he made to G8 protestors, the Police, or many other parties who wish to express their views. (Click here for more information)

As a result of the smears, the campaign was forced to close an online public forum to avoid any potential legal threats from the Council. His attempts to smear the campaign aroused the anger of established Motorcycling groups such as the BMF. (Click here for more information)



In May 2008, he introduced 'Juice Points', at a cost of £3300 per point to you the taxpayer. What he neglected to do was respect the copyright of nPower's Juice Green Energy Tariff - rather than respect the brand name of a company that had worked hard to market itself, he tried to claim that because his department was special, he should be allowed to break the copyright placed on the brand. He had to back down. (Click here for more information)



In March, Chalkley was forced to switch off CCTV in the borough after failing to ensure that it met the minimum standards of resolution - again, rather than simply follow the law and put in place the correct system, Chalkley's response was to claim that the DfT was stuck 'in the dark ages'. Would he be as lenient if you 'just missed' a deadline for council tax, or renewing your parking permit? Not likely. (Click here for more information)



In March, Cllr. Chalkley instructed Wesminster's IT department to BLOCK ACCESS to the No To Bike Parking Tax Website - hardly the move of a department comfortable with it's own actions... (Click here for more information)



It is well known that cashless parking should have a viable alternative, such as an option to pay in cash if required - if your visitors for Saturday lunch had no mobile phone, what to do? But no, Chalkley has decided that Albanians are to blame...

"I'm afraid that we are moving to cashless parking. The decision has been taken. In those areas where it has already been rolled out very successfully we have seen an increase in cash generated from this. This is Council taxpayers money which would otherwise have been siphoned off by members of the Albanian mafia. So, I'm afraid I can't give the assurance that we are now going to reverse that step." But he won't need to worry, as he parks for free...(Click here for more information)



In May 2009, in the run up to the largest demonstration ever seen against Westminster City Council (over the bike parking tax) he used his relationship with haulage firms to try to pressure demonstrators off the streets. He wrote a template latter for the firms, without telling them it was exactly that, and used his leniency on delivery trucks as a tool to encourage those same firms to write to the Campaign - the template was exposed, and Chalkley was embarrassed in the press by the revelations. It also transpired that the haulage firms were helping to pay the wages of a member of the council's parking department. (Click here for more information)


In May 2009, he increased the charges in many of the Central London Bays by 33% - so much for helping people to visit local retailers... he still parks for free though.(Click here for more information)


Using 'kerbside space' as his reasoning for introducing charges for Powered Two Wheeled vehicles was always going to backfire. Why? Because when you introduce a car club into 'under-utilised old style meter bays', people will connect the dots. Managing parking and encouraging flexible transport, or making more money out of cars? Your call... and he still parks for free...(Click here for more information)

In June, Chalkley's department decided that rather than your resident's bays being exclusively for you (well, you do pay a lot for them after all!) they should be opened up to all and sundry - logically then, if you pop to the supermarket, you'll more than likely find that your space is gone and you cannot park outside your own home. THAT'S RIGHT! Working in YOUR interests. Don't worry though, Chalkley can still park for free...

In September it emerged that Chalkley was privatising two car parks previously owned by NCP/NSL. Not only is there no guarantee of continued free parking in those car parks for motorcycles, but also there is no guarantee of continued dedicated spaces for residents. More are likely to follow. Don't worry though, Chalkley can park on street for free...(Click here for more information)


Councilors held a civic dinner for themselves - the cost? £23,000.
At that point, the amount spent on improving parking for bikes? £23,000. (Click here for more information)

Councillors chalkleys parking department is heading for a £22 million pound overspend this year. In a briefing note of the minority party budget report dated 12th January it said "At the December cabinet meeting officers were asked to go away and look more closely at parking and community safety to find further reductions (or additional income)" Chalkley wishes to extend parking restrictions on single yellow lines up to midnight, and increase the hourly parking charge to £5. Where are your vistors going to park if they wish to see you? (Click here for more information)


The question we want you to ask yourselves is this - has he acted like a man with YOUR interests at heart, and those of the council as a whole, or has he blundered and obfuscated his way through a series of money making schemes that consistently fall apart under scrutiny? Has he spent your money well, did he deserve his bonus last year (Councilor bonuses accounted for £39 of every single one of your council tax bills last year)

Why are you voting for Cllr Chalkley? Is it because he is an anti stealth tax, minimal interference in your life, fair play kind of chap? Or because he stealth taxes flexible transport, fines and charges you for moving around your own borough, and tries to hide revenue raising behind refusals to speak to the press or even his own residents?

When it comes to the next local elections, you can vote for whomever you wish! But ask yourself - do you have all the facts, do the councilors DESERVE your vote, or is it time you demanded something better from those who are there to serve you and make your lives easier?

We maintain that Cllr Chalkley's time is nigh, but it is your decision to make.