Latest news with #LondonAssembly
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Iconic UK festival attracting millions each year ‘faces axe without more cash as it makes urgent appeal for help'
THE FUTURE of an iconic UK festival could be in jeopardy unless the government steps in organisers have warned. Millions travel to the Notting Hill Carnival in London each year to join in with the iconic, colourful celebrations. 1 The festival has come under fire amid concerns for public safety Credit: Alamy In a leaked letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy festival chiefs asked for an urgent handout to keep the world famous event going, the BBC reports. It comes after a review of the festival identified "critical public safety concerns" that needed more money to address. Notting Hill Carnival attracts a whopping 2 million revellers a year but has come under fire recently after public safety concerns were raised. Carnival Chair Ian Comfort said in the letter: "The April 2025 London Assembly report, external highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. Read more in News "Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressures." He went on to say that without immediate additional funding "risks compromising public safety and jeopardising the future of the carnival." The full findings of the safety review have not been made public yet. Held annually over the August Bank Holiday weekend last year's Carnival saw a woman tragically stabbed to death amid chaotic scenes. Most read in The Sun Cher Maximen, who was 32, was with friends and her daughter just off the Carnival parade route on Sunday, 25 August 2024 when she was caught up in a violent fight involving multiple men. Maximen was stabbed and tragically died in hospital six days later. The shocking incident sparked widespread concern around the safety of Notting Hill Carnival. Notting Hill revellers hit streets in fabulous feathers as party gets underway The Met Police's Assistant Commissioner has raised concerns over a "mass casualty event" due to density of the massive crowds attracted by the festivities. Without funding to help make the event safer chief's have warned it may not be able to go ahead. In the leaked letter carnival chair Ian Comfort asked for further funding to support increased stewarding and crowd management. Mr Comfort has reportedly not asked for a specific amount of funding. If his request is granted it will mark the first time direct government funding has been provided to the event. During last year's carnival around 7,000 police officers were on duty to help keep festival goers safe.
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
London Assembly Members Tell Mayor To Oppose Car Bloat
Old Mini next to new Mini. A majority of Members of the London Assembly—the 25-member elected body that scrutinizes the work of the London Mayor—voted on June 5 to oppose 'carspreading,' the phenonomen of automobiles becoming wider, heavier and taller. This car bloat, also known as 'autobesity,' damages London's roads, said the London Assembly motion, causing congestion, and putting pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers at greater risk of death and serious injury. Cars are getting bigger by an average of 1 centimeter every two years, with many new cars now too large for U.K. minimum parking spaces. Elly Baker AM, who proposed the motion, said: 'London's streets weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs, which now make up a third of all cars on the road. Their greater size, weight, and higher [hoods] put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads.' She added: 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' The vote was won by 14 votes against eight. The motion states that the 'consequences of surging vehicle size undermine goals for road safety, air quality and put outsized pressure on public finances.' The Assembly now calls on the Mayor to write to the Department for Transport asking that they update vehicle regulations to introduce tighter limits on passenger vehicle size and hood height. The Mayor is further urged to write to HM Treasury asking for a progressive tax on passenger vehicle weight via Vehicle Excise Duty. The Assembly is also calling for London Councils to explore the feasibility of boroughs charging higher parking charges to SUVs to account for pressure they put on road space and local parking spaces. In a referendum last year, the citizens of Paris voted to triple parking fees for SUVs. Today's BMW-built Mini is much wider than the British Motor Corporation's 1959 original, and is also taller and longer. Other famous car models—such as the VW Beetle and the Ford Fiesta—have also increased markedly in size and weight. Modern cars are larger partly because of airbags, crumple zones and air conditioning units, but also because consumers prefer larger motor vehicles—hence the success of SUVs. The motor vehicle 'arms race' has led to calls from motorists for road lanes to be widened and parking spaces to be enlarged. Roads in most British cities are becoming more and more choked as wider motor cars struggle to squeeze past each other. There's an epidemic of pedestrian-unfriendly 'pavement parking'—wheels half up on the sidewalk—and tempers fray when wing mirrors are bashed as porkier cars pass each other. Research from Transport & Environment (T&E) in 2022 found that 'autobesity'—car bloat—is real, with many cars getting too big for British roads, exceeding the 180 centimeter minimum for on-street parking. More than half of new cars sold in 2023 were too wide for the minimum specified on-street parking space in major U.K. cities. Off-street parking is now a tight squeeze even for the average new car, while large luxury SUVs often make it impossible. Fatter cars are heavier cars. And heavier cars cause more highway damage. Richard Hebditch, UK Director for T&E UK, said: 'The trend of cars getting wider has been progressing for decades and that trend will continue until the U.K. sets stricter limits. Currently we allow new cars to be as wide as trucks. This has meant our roads are now home to big SUVs and American style pick-up trucks that are parking on our footpaths, endangering pedestrians and cyclists and making everyone else on our roads less safe.'
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Oppose Car Bloat, London Assembly Members Tell Mayor
Old Mini next to new Mini. CarSized/montage A majority of Members of the London Assembly—the 25-member elected body that scrutinizes the work of the London Mayor—voted on June 5 to oppose 'carspreading,'the phenonomen of automobiles becoming wider, heavier and taller. This car bloat, also known as 'autobesity,' damages London's roads, said the vote, causing congestion, and putting pedestrians, cyclists and other drivers at greater risk of death and serious injury. Cars are getting bigger by an average of 1cm every two years, with most new cars now too large for U.K. minimum parking spaces. Elly Baker AM, who proposed the motion, said: 'London's streets weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs, which now make up a third of all cars on the road. Their greater size, weight, and higher [hoods] put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads.' She added: 'It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible for everyone.' The vote was won by 14 votes against eight. The motion states that the 'consequences of surging vehicle size undermine goals for road safety, air quality and put outsized pressure on public finances.' The Assembly now calls on the Mayor to write to the Department for Transport asking that they update vehicle regulations to introduce tighter limits on passenger vehicle size and bonnet height. The Mayor is further urged to write to HM Treasury asking that they introduce a progressive tax on passenger vehicle weight into Vehicle Excise Duty. The Assembly is also calling for London Councils to explore the feasibility of boroughs charging higher parking charges to SUVs to account for pressure they put on road space and local parking spaces. Today's BMW-built Mini is much wider than the British Motor Corporation's 1959 original, and is also taller and longer. Other famous car models—such as the VW Beetle and the Ford Fiesta—have also increased markedly in size and weight. Modern cars are larger partly because of airbags, crumple zones and air conditioning units, but also because consumers prefer larger motor vehicles—hence the success of SUVs. The motor vehicle 'arms race' has led to calls from motorists for road lanes to be widened and parking spaces to be enlarged. Roads in most British cities are becoming more and more choked as wider motor cars struggle to squeeze past each other. There's an epidemic of pedestrian-unfriendly 'pavement parking'—wheels half up on the sidewalk—and tempers fray when wing mirrors are bashed as porkier cars pass each other. Research from Transport & Environment (T&E) in 2022 found that 'autobesity'—car bloat—is real, with many cars getting too big for British roads, exceeding the 180 centimeter minimum for on-street parking. More than half of new cars sold in 2023 were too wide for the minimum specified on-street parking space (180 centimeters) in major U.K. cities. Off-street parking is now a tight squeeze even for the average new car, while large luxury SUVs often make it impossible. Fatter cars are heavier cars. And heavier cars cause more highway damage. Richard Hebditch, UK Director for T&E UK, said: 'The trend of cars getting wider has been progressing for decades and that trend will continue until the U.K. sets stricter limits. Currently we allow new cars to be as wide as trucks. This has meant our roads are now home to big SUVs and American style pick-up trucks that are parking on our footpaths, endangering pedestrians and cyclists and making everyone else on our roads less safe.' Paris voted to triple parking fees for SUVs in February last year.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
London mayor urged to raise SUV parking fees
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has been urged to seek to increase taxes and parking fees for SUVs. London Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on him to take action over fears the increasing size of cars is damaging roads, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious injury. The assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle weight. It also wants the mayor to ask councils in the capital to consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce stricter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles. The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight against. SUVs have become more popular in recent years, with many drivers preferring the higher seating position. TfL now has 2,000 zero-emission buses in London The bright yellow buggies on the streets of Fulham Anger after SUVs have tyres deflated by activists They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with 12% a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. The size increase has been dubbed "carspreading". Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets "weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs". She added: "Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads. "It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible." AA president Edmund King insisted it was "up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs". He said: "It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive. "Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car. "London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change." A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional car. The analysis by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated the figure rises to 82% for children. A Mayor of London spokesman said: "The mayor, Transport for London and borough partners are working to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads, by expanding the cycle network, making road crossings and junctions safer, reducing speed limits on our roads, and making larger vehicles like HGVs and buses safer. "This year the mayor will be refreshing his Vision Zero action plan to restate his commitment to reducing road danger and responding to new and emerging risks on our roads." The Treasury has been approached for comment. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Should you pay more for parking if you have a big car? End to discounts for zero-emission vehicles Should you pay more for parking if you have a big car? London Assembly
BBC News
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
London mayor urged to increase parking fees and tax on SUVs
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has been urged to seek to increase taxes and parking fees for Assembly Members agreed a motion calling on him to take action over fears the increasing size of cars is damaging roads, causing congestion and putting other road users at greater risk of death and serious assembly called on Sir Sadiq to ask the Treasury to amend vehicle excise duty to include a tax based on vehicle also wants the mayor to ask councils in the capital to consider charging more for parking larger cars, and to call on the Department for Transport to introduce stricter limits on the size and bonnet height of passenger vehicles. The motion was agreed by 14 votes in favour and eight have become more popular in recent years, with many drivers preferring the higher seating position. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with 12% a decade are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less size increase has been dubbed "carspreading".Labour London Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, said the capital's streets "weren't designed for larger vehicles like SUVs".She added: "Their greater size, weight, and higher bonnets put vulnerable road users at greater risk, reduce available parking spaces, and cause more wear and tear on our roads."It's time we took sensible steps to manage the impact of oversized cars and ensure our streets remain safe and accessible." AA president Edmund King insisted it was "up to Londoners to choose the type of vehicle that best fulfils their needs".He said: "It is not really the role of the London Assembly to dictate what cars individuals should drive."Some larger families may well need bigger vehicles with more passenger seats, whereas a driver conducting most trips alone may well choose a city car."London's streets were developed around the horse and cart, so of course our infrastructure needs modernising to keep up with change." A recent study found pedestrians and cyclists are 44% more likely to die if they are hit by an SUV or similar-sized vehicle rather than a traditional analysis by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London stated the figure rises to 82% for children.A Mayor of London spokesman said: "The mayor, Transport for London and borough partners are working to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads, by expanding the cycle network, making road crossings and junctions safer, reducing speed limits on our roads, and making larger vehicles like HGVs and buses safer."This year the mayor will be refreshing his Vision Zero action plan to restate his commitment to reducing road danger and responding to new and emerging risks on our roads."The Treasury has been approached for comment.
