Westminster denies targeting delivery drivers
Page 18

If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE BREWERY LOGISTICS Group (BLG) claims Westminster City Council is deliberately targeting its members for parking violations despite promises to handle delivery drivers with a light touch.
The BLG says its members have seen a 118% rise in the number of Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) issued over the past few months.
Previously, collaboration with the council meant BLG members had reduced the number of PCNs received by members by up to 59% over a period of 18 months.
However, May 2006 saw a sudden 54% increase, foliowed by a 118% increase in August, when 618 PCNs were issued.
BLG chairman Mike Bracey believes the group is being singled out by parking attendants (PAs) to make up for lost revenue from car owners. He cites one incident in which a driver from Exel's Tradeteam division allegedly overheard two PAs saying that his was one of the companies they were targeting.
Kevin Goad, head of parking at Westminster City Council, says the fault lies with delivery drivers: "We went the extra mile to work with the breweries and others to reduce parking tickets — including the amendment of controls and increasing available loading space in the Soho area in particular.
"We've listened and responded to the Brewery Logistics Group and we will continue to work with it, "However," he continues, "[its members] need to help themselves by complying with the parking regulations that are in place to ensure that the traffic flows properly through the heart of London,"