Brian Lake: ‘Motorbikes are low-polluting, with no electric alternative as yet’

• THANK you to John Gulliver for highlighting Camden’s unwarranted attempts to tax motorcycles, (Man on a motorcycle mission over parking, March 11).

The council meeting which received a union delegation (backed by a 1,500-signature petition) opposing Cllr Adam Harrison’s proposals for a) resident parking charges, currently free of charge, and b) business parking charges, currently also free, delayed its decision.

It is now scheduled to be raised again in July. Time to reconsider this imitation of Conservative-run Westminster Council, the only council in London to make motorcyclists pay for parking.

It’s obvious why we avoid parking in Westminster, to the detriment of businesses in that borough. Does Camden want the same to happen here?

And to correct John Gulliver: Camden residents who also work in Camden will have to pay a combined cost for parking – under Cllr Harrison’s current scheme – nearly £500 per annum, rather than £300.

This does not seem to have been properly considered by our Labour council; John Gulliver’s request for information on cost/benefit of the proposals would appear to be timely.

Motorbikes are low-polluting, with no electric alternative as yet. They are a cheap and efficient way of getting round London.

There will be few who object to increasing charges for diesel cars and vans, for instance, as hybrid and electric vehicles become more widely available.

But no need to hit motorcycles with such a low-blow; they are largely the transport of the not-so-wealthy. Camden, think again.

BRIAN LAKE, NW1