Investigate the fiasco on parking

Published: 16 April, 2010

• I WAS appalled to learn in West End Extra that Westminster City Council face a £50million lawsuit over alleged mismanagement of the borough’s parking contract (Parking giant to sue over contract, April 9).
I have been highly critical of the city council’s parking policies, but this tops it all. If they were to lose this case, the sum of £50million would dwarf even the £17million at risk with Icelandic banks.
This kind of situation cannot be allowed to continue. It’s time for change at Westminster City Council. If there really is £50million in lost profits at stake then why is this being outsourced to foreign companies anyway? The obsession with outsourcing takes profits away from council taxpayers, out of the local economy, and puts the money in distant, private hands.
This fiasco demands nothing less than a full investigation.
MARK BLACKBURN
Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Westminster North