ANGRY motorcyclists stormed out of a meeting in protest over parking charges introduced by Westminster Council.
The 50-strong leather-clad group staged the walk-out at the council's environment policy and scrutiny meeting on Tuesday night.
Around 1,000 fellow supporters from the No to Bike Parking Tax campaign gathered outside the meeting, which was held at Westminster City Hall, in Victoria Street, Victoria.
The motorbikers want a trial scheme of £1.50 daily parking charges, brought in by the council in September last year, to be scrapped.
However, all councillors at the meeting - except Labour's Rupert D'Cruz and Ruth Bush - recommended the charge should be kept.
Other recommendations put forward included that the charge should be reduced to £1 per day, £100 for an annual permit, or £50 for a residents' permit.
A final decision over the charge is set to be made in May.
Speaking at the meeting, campaigner Dr Leon Mannings said: "The main reason for imposing this new tax is for revenue raising. It has no demonstrable transport benefits."
Cllr D'Cruz added his support, saying that as the Congestion Charge does not apply to motorbikes, because they are a 'greener' method of transport, these parking charges should not apply.
Campaign chairman Warren Djanogly added: "We're supported by car drivers, residents, traders and ordinary taxpayers.
"These people are not rogues as they have been portrayed, we're here to politely ask you to scrap the charge."
However, other councillors offered their support for the scheme.
Cllr Alan Bradley said: "This council was the first to introduce parking meters in the 1960s.
"If you allow parking to become a 'free for all', it becomes of no use to anyone."
Westminster Council's assistant director for parking added that money made from the scheme had been put back into providing extra motorbike parking bays across the borough, and to providing security devices for locking up the vehicles.
