East London News A Force for the community…
ELN: Colin Barrow, the embattled Leader of Westminster City Council, finally bowed to the inevitable by resigning on January 14 following a highly charged meeting of the ruling Conservative Group of councillors.
Cllr. Barrow had become well known for his controversial ‘night life tax’ parking charges.
Residents and local businesses were relieved the proposals to introduce new parking charges were scrapped shortly after the announcement of his departure.
The proposals which would have seen new parking restrictions and higher charges which would have had a severe effect on the ordinary people who live and work in the West End, often on low wages.
The politically wounded Tory leader had been reeling from the double-punch of Tory heavyweight Mayor Boris Johnson and a consortium of local businesses that had come together to oppose his plans.
As the news filtered down to the streets of Marylebone, Soho and St. Giles ripples of joy spread out across central London. Cllr. Paul Dimoldenberg, the leader of the small Labour Group at Westminster, demanded an enquiry into why the Tory council had “ignored everyone…and acted in a such a high-handed and irresponsible way.”
Cllr. Barrow was first elected to Westminster City Council in 2002, becoming Leader of the Council in 2008. His legacy to the people of his borough is a £1million bill incurred through “preparing for the introduction” of the £4.80 per hour extra charges and the conversion of 199 roads into double-yellows parking zones.
He is due to formally stand down on March 7 and is likely to be replaced by his deputy, Cllr. Rowley.
