Councillor claims pedicabs ‘make Westminster look like a Third World city’UNREGULATED pedicabs make Westminster “look like a Third World city”, according to a councillor.
Speaking at the full council meeting in Porchester Hall last week, St James’s ward Cllr Louise Hyams said: “We all know the nuisance they cause, they are unregulated... they cause congestion, they are uninsured, they just give London a bad name and make us look like a Third World city, not a world-class city, which we are.”
She urged her colleagues to lobby the government to bring in legislation to “control” or “ban” the vehicles, comparing the issue to a past problem of “burger vans”.
She later told West End Extra: “Our residents loathe the way they congregate near their homes and cause them disturbance when they ring their bells late at night.
“Some pedicabs also play loud amplified music as they move around, causing even more noise pollution.”
Chris Smallwood, a spokesman for the London Pedicab Operators Association, said the group had “made strenuous efforts” to engage with the London authorities and the police but “political interference” has prevented any progress.
He said: “It’s a great shame that some elected councillors choose language such as this, simply as soundbites rather than think a little deeper, do some proper research and work towards regulating the industry in a sensible manner.
“If some historical perspective were to be taken, it would be remembered that the private hire industry was a shambles pre-2000, but is now generally respected and has been improved enormously since regulation was introduced.
“There is no reason why the same would not apply to the pedicab industry.”
In a statement, Cllr Melvyn Caplan said: “At the moment, we have no way of knowing who is driving pedicabs in the heart of London, who has insurance for passengers and who is charging extortionate prices.”
source:
http://www.westendextra.com/westminsterpedicabs
Login
Register
FAQ
