Mr Nightlife Tax won't apologise for bungled plan but tells opponent to 'calm down, dear'

Moving on: outgoing Westminster council leader Colin Barrow last night
Simon Freeman13 April 2012

The man behind Westminster council's "nightlife tax" on the West End has defiantly refused to apologise for the fiasco and told the Labour group leader to "calm down, dear".

Outgoing leader Colin Barrow last night insisted that he would not say sorry for an episode that has cost taxpayers up to £1 million.

The multi-millionaire hedge fund boss scrapped the proposals for evening and Sunday parking charges of up to £4.80 an hour following an outcry from businesses, Church leaders, night workers and politicians.

At the council meeting in Marylebone, Westminster's Labour group leader Paul Dimoldenberg said: "After the admission the council got it wrong, will he say sorry to the West End residents, churches, businesses, theatres and residents for the trouble, uncertainty, worry and expense of having to oppose these overwhelmingly unpopular plans?"

But Mr Barrow responded: "No is the answer to that question."

In an echo of David Cameron's Commons put-down of Labour MP Angela Eagle, Mr Barrow borrowed Michael Winner's catchphrase and said: "Last time I looked, Mr Dimoldenberg was a middle-aged man, therefore I think I can get away with saying 'calm down, dear'.

"It's time to put the parking argument behind us and move on. This is about a policy difference, not the end of civilisation.

"As a solution to congestion it would undoubtedly have worked but there was a cost to the wider economy which we have now taken into account.

"We have referred the whole matter to a commission to look at the West End in the round and see if we can come up with a solution that supports the economy better than this policy would have done."

Councillors were debating a Labour motion calling for the formal withdrawal of the policy.

In a surprise move, councillor Lee Rowley, the Tory transport head dubbed the "poster boy" of the nightlife tax, seconded the motion.

He said: "That's grown-up politics and I look forward to many other opportunities when we can come together and agree on what we can do to deal with congestion and parking in the busiest part of the city."

The council estimates that £700,000 has been spent so far on the dropped scheme, of which it claims only £200,000 - the cost of road signs that will now not be used - has been "wasted."

Mr Dimoldenberg has claimed the true figure is closer to £1 million.

Lee Rowley, cabinet member for parking and transportation said: "The figure directly relating to costs associated with implementing evening and weekend charges is £209,000.

"The proposals formed part of a wider parking policy review, which the Council undertakes every ten years. The research and officer time spent on the wider review will be vital to much of the work the Council does in the future."

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