West End parking charges 'should be scrapped'

07 December 2011

Written by Gavin Elley

Plans to introduce parking charges to London's West End should be abandoned, it has been said.

Commercial mortgage holders and small businesses might suffer from the proposals, as letting agent Pearl & Coutts has said the fees will impact trade in the area.

Bars, casinos, restaurants, theatres and other sectors have already protested against the policy, while West End musicians have said travelling around the district with their instruments will become too expensive to be sustainable.

"We have many commercial property tenants in the affected areas and we know they are seriously concerned," marketing manager of Pearl & Coutts Leigh Peters explained.

Independent experts at the Centre for Economics and Business Research have warned small to medium-sized enterprises could be particularly harmed by the charges, with a ripple effect potentially damaging other firms across Mayfair, Soho and Covent Garden.

Furthermore, estate agent Wetherell's managing director Peter Wetherell has called for a judicial review into the parking fees, which are expected to come into effect on January 9th.